Neglect Leads to Loss
Time for me has come to an abrupt and chilling standstill
My body wracked with an uncomfortable and nagging stiffness
A feeling of impending doom hangs over my clouded head
The scent of your perfume still lingers in the room, reminding me
It’s everywhere in fact; my hair, my clothes, and on my skin
Like a hot needle poking my heart, it is constant and continuous
An aged tape stuck on permanent loop plays through my mind
The last time we touched one another, and the aftermath
That memory invades every thought, controls every action
Wishing without any chance of success all the while
Wanting that moment back, as if I could possibly reverse time
Nothing matters, aside from lamenting that which isn’t now
This hard wooden chair my prison; a cell with nary need for bars
In the middle of an empty room, a room once full of life
The brightly painted walls seem duller and claustrophobic
Lustrous gaiety in their swirled colors now resemble a hurricane
A storm from which no amount of speed will allow escape
Staring down at my calloused hands, watching them shake at will
I’m waiting for something, but for what I cannot truly say
Still holding tightly to that moment, rocking slightly, childlike
Yet progress is not measured neither forward nor back
This state of limbo that now haunts me, now holds sway over me
Every action has the same reaction and all paths lead to nowhere
With no place to look but upward, perhaps in feeble prayer
Perhaps another direction to lend balance to this confusion
Eyes clouded and sight dim, rewind, play, rewind, play
Talking gaining volume, arms flying in all directions
Now yelling, drowning out the noise and all opposition
Right, wrong, maybe neither, maybe both, maybe just maybe
Aloud, unrehearsed and horse I cry, “Come back to me my love!!!”
I’m listening with all I’m worth and beg you again for everything
The things I avoided, the words I misinterpreted, the moments missed
This time it will be different, if you’d only come home you’ll see
No more neglect, you’ll come first this time around
I promise…….
- Immersion – Souls and Their Seeking - February 25, 2025
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- The Loving Peace of Christmas Noise - December 20, 2024
Oh, how heart-wrenching this is, Ralph. The torment, the confusion, the sorrow is so alive in your words. Very well phrased and emotive.
Fortunately this person isn’t me. When partners stop listening to one another, then the barrier starts to form between them – this poor soul failed to see that eventually the whole thing would come crashing down. Sad part is that usually once someone makes the choice to leave, that’s it. The lesson behind this piece (in my humble opinion) is to listen more and talk less…….
Trust and a ready ear, two things that are the foundation of my marriage. But yes after a failed relationship all these thoughts run rampant through the mind and you start questioning what could have been different to make it work. Great piece Ralph ~Paul
I promise……. how many times have we all said that when it is too late?…awesome piece…