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Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Last Time

image source
She wears long sleeves in August; laughs
about her fat arms. Sunglasses
hide her blue eyes. Please don't call the house
after six; her daughter may be sleeping.
She's taken to buying dark make-up and
waterproof mascara.

He swears he's going to change
This was the last time

The questions come more often
The looks, the whispers too
How many times can she say she
bumped into a door?
tripped on the stairs?
Besides it's not all his fault; she
has a temper too and
they both drink too much.

He swears he's going to change
This was the last time

She thinks about leaving him when
her daughter starts to cower
But where would she go? Who would she tell?
So they drink too much and yell and it was
the last time; in a beautiful dress meant for a party
a little girl helps bury her mother.

He swears he's going to change
This was the last time

15 comments:

Christine said...

I really don't believe people change that easily. Liars are liars who hone their craft. Very sad write.

Brian Miller said...

damn. ugh. this should never happen. and as much as i want to believe people can change...she should never have to put up with this...and i know i dont understand but...ugh...to meet him in a dark alley...

Reflections said...

Ah... the all too often ending. Yet they place themselves there time and time again. Believing this is the last time, believing things will change, excuses made, egos bruised once again telling them this is the best they can do.

Heartfelt write, maybe it will inspire someone, lighting a bulb to let them see they are worth more.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Delicate handling of a nasty problem.

JustRex said...

You do have a way of getting under someone's skin and poking right where it's the most tender. And I don't mean that in a bad way at all. People always say that they are going to change. In my experience, they rarely ever do.

nene said...

Wow!!!!Thanks for perpetuating this insidious human condition sometime even in the absence of alcohol.

Words like these sometimes make it so evincingly more poignant.

Thanks

Pearl said...

Haunting -- and too often true...

Pearl

Jingle Poetry At Olive Garden said...

you are such a productive soul,
keep your talent alive.

Fireblossom said...

The thing is, abusers are very often also charmers when they care to be. It's very confusing.

Enchanted Oak said...

Lola, your structure is very good here, building very quietly the storm, so ominous in its repetive break chorus. Applause for your control.

Deborah said...

Oh gosh, this made me shiver, you wrote it brilliantly!

Anonymous said...

Tugs at the heartstrings...

Rachel Hoyt said...

Ouch! That ending is reallly sad, but surely happens all the time. It is such a difficult cycle to escape.

Jinksy said...

This highlights a real problem area, but the solution remains imponderable...

Anonymous said...

damn...these are words i've uttered myself....wow...