Stephen,
lets go through this one bit by bit :)

They say I'm not supposed to be
friends with those who're in love with me
but as long as a line's agreed
and it's not passed ... it's fine with me.

^^^^^
Friends with benefits, I've seen all the movies.. someone always crosses the line.. Great strong start.. has me curious where it is heading..

Yet on the flip side, I can tell
it would be my personal hell
--and has been, now that I retell--
to have a friend for whom I fell.

^^^^^^^^^
WOW.. very strong again.. this is you weighing up the options.. if you fell, it would be hell, and then you realised it did happen.

It's such a sticky pickle though,
an answer I may never know
as to whether I misbestow
a glimmer of hope to friends in friend-zones.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's always a thing isn't it. you hear people who were friends forever and one falls for the other but it never leads past the friendzone.. but seeing someone who has been able to pass it, does give hope to others.. :)

It sucks to face drawn out rejection
--though worse to follow wrong directions--
leading you to circumspection
every time you're shown affection.

^^^^^^
wow. very powerful ending. I also agree with you.
When a simple gesture between friends such as paying for a meal is taking as a bigger gesture of affection. just makes a huge mess of things!

Well done on another well written piece.
There's no solution in my sight:
I may be wrong, I may be right.
I need a friend like you tonight,
and so this battle has no fight.

I get this... a thousand times over!

Love the easy flow and rhyme that makes it more conversations and like you're mulling over in your mind what to do. I've go back and forth between it. Sometimes, it's easier to be with that person and you can value that they're still present in your life, even as a friend. Other times, it gets more tough on the heart when that hurt is hiding beneath the surface.

Take care :)

I'll come back and comment in full.

Hi S I'm back to comment fully and my goodness I've wrote 2 long comments and then they've cleared so hopefully 3rd time lucky. I like the rhyming and the content as many of us can relate to this piece. I can feel the emotion within it pouring out.

I was going to split this up and give my insight but I can't. All I can say is that friends that we are 'in love' with are always going to be a piece of us because they were friends first and other feelings were added. I do believe that they will be held in our hearts even if we never speak again.

I'm not sure if I've got it right at all or if I'm misinterpreting.

All in all, great write.
Em

A great write on a subject that definitely causes a conundrum in most. Love the rhyming and light conversational way its presented. Milly x

Hello,

I think the AAAA rhyming scheme is extremely difficult to achieve convincingly, but I'm glad to see you are experimenting with forms and styles.

I feel, at least for me, that this rhyming scheme distracted from what was being said. I felt it was shadowing the emotions.

II feel the last line in the third stanza was too long next to the line before it. I don't wish to tell you how to change your work - nor do I believe I'm an expert.

I particularly enjoyed the language of the fourth stanza, especially the rhymes. The were more of a stretch, and thus, more interesting. I think, as readers and writers, we read so many of the same rhymes: 'one' 'none', 'hope' cope', 'day' 'dismay'. It is our job to elevate. Elevate ourselves, the reader, the art form. We must challenge ourselves and each other. you've done that here in your fourth stanza with your rhymes, and in the poem with your rhyming scheme.

Regards,

Bradley

P.S. Please comment and vote honestly on every piece you read.

I'm experiencing this now.. I'm in love with my Best friend and he is just keeping me in the friend zone.. I always love your poems. They are all amazing. This is just another one to add to my list of favourites x