Once more with Peeling (7th November 2008, 10.23am)
Rinse our hands of this and
then repeat; the same mistakes
become unlearnt; will we ever
cave in, admit defeat?
Time has burned the candles
at both ends, the light diminished;
are we destined to end up lovers
still, or simply friends?
I have peeled back the layers
of my conscience, spilled the guilt;
I watch it coagulate on the desk,
skin wrinkling, tense.
Once more into the breach;
a war-zone, where we load our
weapons well; enemies on both
sides, we call it home.
And we shall fight across the
kitchen sink; vituperative and hard-
faced; old wounds are not erased;
push me, to the brink.
I’d rinse my hands of you but
it’s too hard, finding a replacement;
beloved, you contain my fears.
Break me, bastard.
Comments
Bradene | November 7, 2008 - 10:56
Wow! this is so powerful, you certainly know how to make the reader feel your emotions, I'm sure it raised my blood pressure a few notches.. Anger fear love hate it's all there. Really good Jenifer. It left me breathless. Val
Silver Spun Sand | November 7, 2008 - 11:45
I agree wholeheartedly, Jennifer. All human life is here in this poem and especially in the last stanza.
Much enjoyed.
Tina
littleditty | November 7, 2008 - 13:09
oo-la-la! this is gooood! what does vituperative mean? harsh, critical - burning the candle as in living life fast, or wasteful, burning candle horizontally at both ends burning out too quickly - powerfully imaged and reminded of Shakespeare, Lady Mac's handwashing, and Henry V which i dont know well at all but have always loved this speech:
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger:
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.
really enjoyed this tyger tyger write - good to read xx
Nathan Bednarek | November 7, 2008 - 13:57
Jennifer is back at her best! This is amazing and the last line is jaw-dropping - it has that effect of an incoming fist that you see just before it hits you. Amazing work, well done.
Nathan.
jennifer | November 9, 2008 - 21:51
Thank you, everyone! Highly personal, this one. Directed at my most major ex. We have a troubled friendship... nobody else gets under my skin and p's me off like he does, still!
How I love how I can get it all out in poetry - without such sweet release, I think I'd go insane!