if you would listen
to my voice
and not the tape
hissing in your head
from a thousand conversations
and none of them
with me
if you would hear my words
and not talk over them
before my mouth opens
arguing with yourself
using the language
you think I would say
to fill in the space
of my silence
the problem here
is supposition,
how you assume
the reason for our distance
can be solved
in a series of steps,
or how it
should be
something I hold
in my hands, and can be
laid down and picked up
at will
it can’t
and this love
is not easily blown away
like milkweed seeds,
scattered by the wind of our words
and floating off in it
any more
that the reason it faded
can be brushed off
like dust from our palms
but still
it dissipates
This is strong and comes from deep down. Two persons caught in a painful engagement!
Oh, how to respond? This is still raw–maybe too raw?
What is most painful is standing somewhat more free of it and watching another struggle, if that makes any sense.
Lovely Susan. You should publish a book (unless you have already and then please let me know so I can buy it!)
Oh, my–thanks so much for that! I just need to suck up some courage and dive in…
Love how you wring out emotion into assemblages of words. No mincing of words, right to the heart.
Thanks, Nelle, yes–even when one is breaking.
This reminds me of my relationship ~usually ego-filled~ excellent writing on a tough topic.~Faithfully Deb
Thank you, Deb–this was cathartic.
Love your strength and you!
Thanks, hon!
This is deeper than it appears. I like the tone it carries. I am having major issues with WP…my comments aren’t posting on other people’s blogs, and some posts including yours aren’t showing up on my email…i hope you get this :). Great job!!!
Thank you, Boomie–yes, hiding in my spam. Glad you liked this–I do too, although it carries an ouch…
Yes…there is a certain strength in the tone. I like it :)!!! Ouch can be very good sometimes i think
Yes, cathartic.
So true and wonderfully worded!
Thank you Patricia!
My husband and I ….
Frustrating, isn’t it…
you captured so well the painful arguments that happen between two people when listening is simply out of the question. Raw and beautiful, I liked it!
Thank you so much, Joe.