Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Cleaved


Cleaved


How many more times
must I forgive you
before my life is mine?

Do wishes grow stale
in the belly of hope
perpetual, unfulfilled?

Can I cry enough tears
to summon you, mother
or must I suffer the eternity of night
alone with my heaving?

Do you know the sound of my cry?

Is it etched somewhere?
An inseparable part of you
without which you could not survive?

Or did you allow me
to perish so as not
to risk love?
Out of fear it
would not be returned
in equal measure.

It doesn’t matter.
The irritation is complete.
Grain of sand in my heart.
Oh mother of pearl!
Your jeweler’s tongue
cleaved such sharp edges
but I shall never know diamond.


dennis tkon copyright 2007

13 comments:

Brian said...

Do wishes grow stale
in the belly of hope

best line

Anonymous said...

Thank you sir! And thanks for reading!!

Anonymous said...

I love that opening stanza - the way forgiveness makes the life yours, and has nothing to do with the other person.

i also love the way, in the last stanza, you bring in the jewel with the irritation. I wish there was more of the pearl metaphor throughout.

great! two in a row! You are really cooking now!

Anonymous said...

Thanks M! I'm always very greatful for your comments and thoughts. I'm so psyched to be writing poetry again!

Rambler said...

Or did you allow me
to perish so as not
to risk love?
Out of fear it
would not be returned
in equal measure.

so well done...
and something which I can totally relate to

Anonymous said...

This can work as a love poem too. A very good one at that.

That said, this poem stays in mind.

Norma said...

Wonderful imagery with the pearl and diamond.

http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/10/4230-totally-optional-prompts-alumni-of.html

Tumblewords: said...

The final two lines are brilliant! The entire poem offers much, though, but the ending...ah...

Andy Sewina said...

'Oh mother of pearl!'
I love the way you build the poem towards this exclamation!

Anonymous said...

"Or did you allow me
to perish so as not
to risk love?"

This is where it really comes alive for me. The anger, disappointment and frustration reads true - very good poem.

paisley said...

wow... this was amazing!!!!

this line blew me away.....
Do wishes grow stale
in the belly of hope

Anonymous said...

Very touching. Made me feel sad.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.