Poems by Doug William Benson

Twelve red roses;
best when unsuspected

Eleven vows spoken;
deepest thoughts reflected

Ten interlocked fingers;
longing then reconnected

Nine vulnerable moments;
never to feel rejected

Eight emotional disagreements;
both parties respected

Seven laugh-til-you-cries;
priceless and unexpected

Six trips across the pond;
cultures to be injected

Five love languages learned;
unknown needs now detected

Four eyes looking forward;
though the past not neglected

Three Godly forces;
new roads Heaven-directed

Two hearts forged together;
now forever connected

One purpose in mind;
love always protected

Just for tonight
Let's press pause on life
Turn off our phones
And light a candle

Just for tonight
Let's clear our minds
Focus only on each other
Sharing openly, listening intently

Just for tonight
Let's remember how to play
Be a little mischievous
And overly silly

Just for tonight
Let's shut out the world
Open our hearts
And reconnect

Just for tonight
Let's recall our "I do's"
And take just a moment
To reflect on "We have..."

Just for tonight
Let's make time
To cuddle
To smile
To cry
To laugh
To be

Just for tonight.

From window sills
To pictured thrills
A life that's now forgotten

A lover's song
Of fate gone wrong
And time brought all that's rotten

Unrealized dreams
And endless streams
Relentless tears keep falling

Of cursed tomorrows
Engulfed with sorrows
This heavenward voice keeps calling

Oh, peace and rest
Abide in my chest
Endure my new endeavor

Faith, keep held high
Hope, dry my eyes
Love, fill my heart forever!

I'll never forget when I first met Desire,
The feelings I had; my heart raging with fire.
She helped me believe all things were in reach,
As long as I had her to guide and to teach.

I fell for her passion like never before,
But the lack of her action left me longing for more.
So the flame soon extinguished as fast as it lit,
And I moved on just knowing that I couldn't commit.

So I kept searching.

Miss Good Intentions then entered the scene,
I was fully consumed by her hopes and her dreams.
The words she would tell me; future lives we'd envision,
Our plans and our goals were laid out with precision.

But we argued too often, Good Intentions and me,
The "I should's" and "I want to's" ruling the themes.
Ideas that would, sadly, never come to fruition,
So, she stayed firm believing and I left with ambition.

And I kept searching.

Days bled into weeks and then weeks just flew by
And after some months I was set up with Try.
I fell head over heels for Try's declaration:
"Attempts and failures are life's education!"

But excuses got stronger as failures increased;
Self-discipline dwindled and willpower ceased.
So, my stubborn soul said not to settle with Try
Knowing someone out there was unsettled as I.

And then I finally found her.

With the zeal of Desire; the hope of Good Intentions,
Living Try's motto without apprehensions,
And faith in me for the life I'd inhabit,
It all came together once I finally met Habit.

For Habit doesn't have wandering eyes,
She holds me accountable; catches my lies.
She sees my potential that I don't see,
Of growth sustainable, healthy and free.

So, I surrender my heart at the dawn of each day
And let Habit preside, often leading the way.
Fully committed; forever we'll be.
I'll never leave Habit as Habit's in me.