like a prodigal sun
on a startled winter evening
causing him to squint
blinking away happiness
like sand in the eyes of love
you were there
the dismissive femme fatale
in this final edit
you took his cues
took his keys
took his shoes
took his leave
took his heart…
…took him apart
you took him for a fool
it wasn’t you didn’t want him
you said
you simply saw yourself
in a different movie
with a different ending
one that saw you
leave quietlyy alone
through the garden
alive with the fragrance of roses
and the joys of the lilly
and you said “I’d like, too,
to plant the sweet alyssum
that smells like honey
and peace”
and in this peaceful quiet
there would be
no long farewells
no broken hearts
at least
not yours
and the abandoned man
in the leather chair
had my face
had no expectations
made no demands
held you responsible
for nothing
nothing
and the night lark sang
and a silver tear
fell hard as steel
from his crystal’d cheek
which you collected in a sterling box
to toss into the freezing sea
for you had no need for tears
no need
you’d rolled the dice
but the bones was loaded
and you left the table
cashed in your winnings
climbed the winding stairs
silk purse in hand
his heart in your pocket
to place it at midnight
on your balcony rail
to watch it wither in the moonlight
he had no need for it
now
nor did you
anymore
nor most certainly
did you
no need
To check out more poems at dVerse: CLICK HERE
~
old enough to be her dad
but the young men were just mad
they nursed their grievances
and she was flattered by his charm
it wouldn’t do her any harm
they all had their chances
he sent her flowers and limousines
she was treated like a queen
anything she ever wanted
it was no problem for a man like him
and everyone expected soon
that she could ask him for the moon
if she would wear his ring
knowing glances from his friends
in the homes at the weekends of high society
but he didn’t give a damn
he never felt more like a man
and all the time the clock was ticking
and all would envy
the older man and his beautiful young wife
yes all would envy
in a house upon a hill
she was there with time to kill
she lived a life she’d only dreamed
the life was never what it seemed
to all her friends that she’d ignored
she denied that she was bored
she had no time for dancing
– no time for dancing
but the clock upon the wall
that was ticking in the hall always reminded her
that life was going on elsewhere
but she was happy and she whould swear
she wouldn’t change a thing
and all would envy
the older man and his beautiful young wife
yes all would envy
now its five o’clock am
she must have spent the night again
with that old friend of hers
she loves to dance
she’s missing more and more these days
but he’s still stuck in his old ways
perhaps she needs a little more romance
but the clock upon the wall
is still ticking in the hall
she must be home soon – soon
where a younger man would weep
he takes a pill and goes to sleep
now who would envy
the older man and his beautiful young wife?
who would envy? who would envy?
~ ~ ~
gordon sumner © 2001
“No need” to criticize, brother–this piece calls and responds, and the refrains are haunting. Perhaps the “man with your face” was/is you, or was whelped by your fecund imagination, but no matter. I read this aloud, and it sings and soars, sir. You had me at “you simply saw yourself in a different movie, with a different ending.” My first marriage ended like this one, seven years with her before she changed scripts. My second marriage. five years long, was an emotional disaster, me at 33, her at 21. I was the one to exit stage left. My third marriage, 27 years and counting, is well cast, well written, and worthy of praise.
Thank you Glenn… 🙂 Cool that this piece resonates with you. This man is an amalgam of every bad actor or poor fool I have played in my 73 years. It also took me 3 marriages to get it right brother, so I get it. Kathy and I are going on 34 years.
Rob, I could be wrong but this seems like it’s about you and your birth mother. This is an emotional cauldron that is spilling over with tears. It physically hurts to read it. How callous humans can be to each other knows no bounds. {{{{HUGS}}}}
You certainly have identified an element that is likely present in this. It boiled up from that place I hold my sense of abandonment, my disappointments in life. I know not all of my disappoints draw me as a victim. There are certainly those for which significant responsibility is mine. It is just, those in which I am villain or co-villain, don’t hurt as intensely, cause as much emotional bruising, or linger as long. So precisely who that woman is climbing the stairs, I am not fully certain. But that man in the leather chair is, no doubt — me.
Oh, this is so heartbreaking and it truly stirs my emotions. It’s something else how someone can reveal all sides of themselves, being the same person, yet being someone else all the same. Slowly, you don’t even recognize them anymore or maybe you never even recognized them at all, but you only retain the knowledge and the hurt of what they took from you.
Truly heartbreaking and shattering. You weave this piece so beautifully with imageries attributed to their callousness, along with emotional aspects connected to nature. I always love ocean imagery:
“which you collected in a sterling box
to toss into the freezing sea
for you had no need for tears
no need”
I also have to say that this was my favorite stanza:
“the dream broke
like a prodigal sun
on a startled winter evening
causing him to squint
blinking away happiness
like sand in the eyes of love”
I could feel the sand quite literally in my eyes. When I can FEEL the emotional descriptions, I believe a writer’s work here is done. My hat is off to you! Very well-written, Rob.
Thank you Lucy, very much. I appreciate your gracious comments. This piece really stirred a mix of emotions as I wrote — feelings drawn from my years on earth.
Deep emotions here and this part hurts:
you simply saw yourself
in a different movie
with a different ending
Thanks so much for being part of our poetry community. Cheers!
Thank you Grace! In the past 18 years, I have been part of a number of poetry prompt sites, including having published one myself for 3 years, entitled Writer’s Island. I remember when Brian and Claudia launched the initial version of this site. I didn’t get involved immediately because I was already active on other sites, plus actively publishing mine. To the credit of your group currently managing d’Verse, this site has maintained a high standard. I enjoy being part of this community.
Powerful write Rob, your anger and bitterness at such cruel treatment is right there on the page. As you say – sometimes these powerful feelings leap up at us and won’t be stilled – even from a distance of many years (whoever said ‘time heals all wounds’ is an idiot). BTW love these photos of you during your singing career. All the best for the season and see you in 2021.
Thank you Peter. Yes, time might dull the throbbing pain, but the sting is always just below the surface. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I look at them and wonder, who is that guy? I put them up to offer a bit of insight to how I got here, and to let people know that I have not always been a cranky old man — I used to be an angry young man… 😉 …see ya’ next year!
Wow, what an ending. I was surprised by the lack of need felt.
I agree, makes one wonder Christine. I think the cruel woman may have been shallow, or heartless, or perhaps a sociopath?
This is very well done Rob. The repetition and the story in the poem work together so well. A broken heart left behind unneeded!
Thank you Dwight, always appreciate your gracious words… 🙂
I was immediately hooked by
‘the dream broke
like a prodigal sun
on a startled winter evening’ –
what a surprising and beautiful opening, Rob! What followed was even more surprising – the sad tale of a man fooled by love. How many people see themselves ‘in a different movie / with a different ending’, but never find the cinema where it’s playing? My heart aches for the ‘abandoned man / in the leather chair’. The repetitions are full of poignant emphasis. How heartless to take a heart and ‘watch it wither in the moonlight’.
I am pleased this resonated for you Kim! Lotta cold hearted prople on this big planet.
The repetition of you took, and took, took, took took! really resonates. There are too many people like that. Some wounds never ever heal.
I am pleased this resonated for you Yvonne… 🙂 …and yes, while the two sides of any relationship are seldom equal — genuine pursuit of balance makes for a strong and rewarding bond!
Love exposes all our vulnerabilities. And yet you have kept yourself open to both giving and receiving. That is a rare treasure.
They both have their rewards Kerfe, in an equitable relationship.
What a heartless femme fatale you have conjured up here, Rob! The Snow Queen herself?
Yes, but we have all acted frosty at times in our life Ingrid. The question is, do we regret it, maybe even made amends? That is what distinguishes the caring soul.
I think this resonates with everyone because at some time or another that heavy thumb’s left its print for all to see.
No doubt Misky. Time leaves its impression on us all.
My friend, you ended 2020 in spectacular fashion. The depth of feeling here overwhelms, makes me want to probe down deep into the cauldron that is my past … that only someone in her/his 70’s can do. Cheers and best wishes for a glorious Holiday.
Thank you Helen… 🙂 …yes, life leaves very few of us unmarked somewhere along the line.
This is epic, Rob. Phrase after beautiful phrase strung together like a strand of vibrant gems. I was at the other end of the 3-marriage thing….my husband’s third wife, and the one who lasted until his life ended all too soon at 60. The abandoned man in the leather chair rose to love once more, no doubt a bit more guarded. Bravo, Rob. Beautiful write.
Thank you Bev… 🙂 …your late husband finally found the right woman, and the two of you found a good life together. My belated sympathy about his passing my friend.
These lines really hit me –
and a silver tear
fell hard as steel
from his crystal’d cheek
which you collected in a sterling box
to toss into the freezing sea
for you had no need for tears
no need
I like the repetition of “no need” here and in the title and at the end. It is something I have felt at times from people as well, the “ghosting” if you will, like there is no need. When in actuality, I’m sure there is hurt and pain. Some philosophies will tell us it’s good to not be attached emotionally in life, because it is the cause of so much suffering, yet it is our human need to find attachment. We all have this need.
…and attachment is also the source for incredible joy. As humans we must remember like us, nothing in life is permanent — but many things in life are wonderful. The wonderful wouldn’t be precious if it wasn’t fragile.
Yes! A lot to chew on there, very true!
🙂
His heart may be in a sterling box tossed into the sea, but better there than in her hands.
I hear ya Ken. Those were some cold hands.
the pain is palpable … this is a true ‘ending’!
As this comes straight from your heart Rob was it cathartic? I hope it enabled some healing …
Take care and enjoy your break!
Thanks Kate.! Cathartic perhaps, it more an piece created by the inspiration of memory, of life experience. An amalgam of accumulated emotional history.
You certainly know how to strum the heart strings Rob. Thank you so much for the blurb and photo for the Muse here too! You are amazing and I appreciate you doing that! We missed you over at the Muse this week. Shay did a different prompt about Laura Nyro. I think you will enjoy it. Take care, and stay safe.
Thank you carrie. I will check out Shay’s prompt… 🙂
To be left abandoned like this.. it’s always unequal in a parting. I actually was reminded by the lyrics to “the winner takes it all” by Abba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cwKCU8Z5c
Someone is always he alpha in a relationship, although the lead changes hands in certain situtions.
I think this is superb and sad, “sand in the eyes of happiness.” so well done. My poem is about leaving, yours about being left. Sigh.
Thank you Lona, life is full of unfortunate disconnections.