Sunday, March 4, 2012

Saying Goodbye: A Saturday Centus Post

(Prompt is in GREEN)



deep within 
she knew
time was nearing

despite desperate denials
fearful, bitter truth
came through child’s cry

“Mommy, please stop!”

how hard she had tried:
countless times 
countless ways
a few days here 
a few weeks there
eventually succumbing
to his always appealing
seductive spell...
his charismatic charm

controlling encounters:
different places
different times
secretly meeting
hiding
even cheating with others…
never worked
always resulting in
guilt
remorse
shame

deep down she knew
he was toxic…
he could
and would
kill…
destroying her soul

and yet
saying goodbye
was harder than she thought

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jenny Matlock

10 comments:

Brian Miller said...

it always is...and we cant do it alone often....

Susan Anderson said...

I feel strongly about this subject, and you expressed it well, Polly.

I did go back to my poem and read it again with the new word you suggested. And you're right. That made for a powerful change of paradigm.

=)

Melody said...

Great writing. Scary stuff.

~Melody
MerrieMelody.blogspot.com

anitamombanita said...

Great treatment of a difficult subject. The words suggest the figurative addiction of being in an unhealthy relationship, but the powerful image suggests another form of addiction. In the end, it doesn't really matter. They are equally toxic. Well done!

JANU said...

Addiction does that. Nice take on the prompt

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

Psychologically taut, well done!

Judie said...

Polly, you are just a wonder! You are blessed with such a gift. That's all I can say.

Pat said...

This is powerful, as is the addiction. I see my father in it, battling alcoholism, and I see the old me in it struggling with an addiction to a boyfriend in the past who was a charming, manipulative narcissist.

Unknown said...

Well-penned, Polly!

Best wishes,
Anna
Goodbye Pierre - SCwk 96

You may also like to read this story expanded to 400 words for RFWers:
Anna's RFWers Challenge No.33 'I love you because...'

Jenny said...

My daughter sits in jail this weekend for another fall from her program.

And these words seared my soul.

I cannot imagine the kind of courage people have to turn away over and over again.

That kind of bravery commands my utmost admiration.

And prayers.

Wow.

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