The Great Expanse.

by Poet on the Piano   Jan 31, 2023


How I wished you walked away
sooner -

did I self-sabotage the love
I felt was too direct
for a fragile stem like me?

But then again, the absence of you
amazes me in its scope.

You held back the
space I needed to grow.

You corroded, corrupted
the roots I'd taken centuries
to care for.

I had nowhere I could
turn; rosemary and
thyme never bloomed
within me.

I gave birth to nothing
but stale baby's breath
and false memories.

The bitterness has exiled;
now, my tastebuds hold
richer desires.

You were dead on my
tongue for years.

I should have realized,

and you know,

you should have, too.

________________________

Written for Larry's contest, inspired by Taylor Swift lyrics:
"I think I've seen this film before and I didn't like the ending".

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Latest Comments

  • 1 year ago

    by Larry Chamberlin

    Your running use of the herbal metaphor works well. Especially I like your use of the symbolic meaning of the herbs to expand the content of your poem. Blank verse works well here. You liken yourself to a fragile plant, no hard wood grows on these herbaceous plants. You are wrestling with the question not of blame but causation. Did you sabotage the relationship or were you betrayed? You come to the conclusion that both you and the other are the “root” of the trouble. Within yourself you find no grounding (Rosemary = remembrance) of courage (thyme), while developing only false love (stale baby’s breath). On the other hand the other undermined your self confidence and confined you. When they left, you found the space to grow you had not realized you needed.

  • 1 year ago

    by Skyfire

    Nicely done! You turned those lyrics into a gorgeous, inspired poem.

  • 1 year ago

    by Star

    It was so awesome to see who wrote what!! Love this. The emotions are soo powerful!
    Annnnd am I the only one who keeps hearing the music in my head while reading the poem lol

    • 1 year ago

      by Poet on the Piano

      Aww, thank you! And omg no, I have done the same reading the entries, just humming along :)

  • 1 year ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Hello,

    this poem is chilling and sad in equal measures. Overall, the self berating message of a missed opportunity, allowing a treasure go to waste is effective and resonates. That punchline though is powerful - superb throughout!

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