Dead End

by Hannah Lizette   Oct 10, 2013


My dream-catcher caught a
glimpse of you last night,

she traveled along blue
interstates that wove our
cities together and bulldozed
over moss-sodden railroad
tracks before she realized
she almost collided with
a warped dead-end sign -

a warning I placed
there years ago.

I used to slingshot gravel
against it and hope that the
metal would stagger until it
severed from the hinge,

giving me justification
to track you down and
lace my fingers in your
hair once more.

But after all of my
failed attempts,
I realized I chose
this sign for a reason -

I couldn't stop trying
to locate your love,
so I had to put you
on the only road
I couldn't follow.

Copyright 2013: Hannah K.

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Latest Comments

  • 11 years ago

    by Poet on the Piano

    Ah you used dream-catcher! I loved that! Beautiful way of opening and it holds a lot of significance. I actually want to find a dream-catcher so I can put one in my room, just for fun and I think they are gorgeous.

    What makes your poem visual to the reader and really shows us what is happening, is the fact you put such liveliness into this piece. A lot of your verbs aren't ordinary and give immediate imagery, as well as the thought put behind this poem to give meaning without "describing" each and every thing.

    In the beginning stanzas, I'm not sure if this girl is a friend, sister, or someone you don't know too well. What intrigued me was the fact you placed the warning there. Like you had foresight she would travel down a path that would not be right for her... maybe down abuse, self-loathing, or something that she would not be happy in. And because you have possibly been with her, observed her before, you know her heart. You care for her.

    "I used to slingshot gravel
    against it and hope that the
    metal would stagger until it
    severed from the hinge,

    giving me justification
    to track you down and
    lace my fingers in your
    hair once more."

    - I felt the intensity and importance of trying to be near her again... it makes me think this is more of an urgency because she is so far away. You don't know exactly where she is.

    The ending was memorable. It also was provoking because your phrasing was clever, and something I hadn't thought about or suspected! Now I get a bigger picture that you saw her so much it pained you, whether physically or in your memories and dreams.... that eventually you had to put up a block. Whether to protect her or you or both. Almost like knowing you have to step back to reality, to that distance. Because for whatever reasons, you can't travel down the road she is on.

    This poem had such heart and soul in it, mostly because I feel your thoughts from pain to realization. Wonderful poem, glad you could share!

  • 11 years ago

    by Lifesbreath

    Great poem, Hannah! I felt like I was there at the end of that road with you!

  • 11 years ago

    by Redangelwings

    I am so glad you wrote another poem. You always make my commenting muse run wild lol. Ok heres what I think.

    Dead end is a great title for this poem I feel. It's very simplistic but it's fits into the point of the poem. The first two lines are fantastic as you show how much you think about a certain person. You dream to escape your reality but it seems your reality is in your dreams. Ok. You warned this person that you might fall out of love maybe? But you traveled down this road or path to find this love at a dead end or relationship at a dead end. You didn't want this it seems. You still love this person yet you have no where to go.

    You have failed sure but sometimes you do have to find another path to go on. I loved the last stanza as it wraps up the poem so well. When you are in love you always want to keep searching and keep trying but as you say dead ends are not just an end but an opportunity to go a different path. I love this deeper meaning behind this. :). Great work. This was just what I thought.

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