
The Only Side That Counts
This winter wind blows as
cold as your indifference,
tearing at my coat like your
words tore at my heart that
night when I cried out for
help.
You turned your back on me
– deliberately –
even though you’d been where
I was, felt what I was feeling.
Had admitted as much to me.
We were never really friends.
We didn’t know how to be. We
never shared anything of significance
except a bit of time now and then.
Finally, even that was more than
you wanted to give.
We’ve all been to somwhere like this, but you expressed it so well.
LikeLike
Raw sadness drips from these lines – so powerfully written.
LikeLike
Zouxzoux, I concur with Elephant Small. What struck me most was the image of the word “Deaf” above the poem and how it was implicit throughout. There are friends and there are acquaintances. Always sad to find out you thought someone was the former and turns out to be the latter… or even less.
Amy Barlow Liberatore, and here’s mine:
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/the-revolving-balance/
LikeLike
A powerful write about how relationships can be so painful.
True friends are hard to find. Well written, zouxzoux.
Pamela
LikeLike
Cold indifference, and its ramifications, so finely realized here. Conga rats.
LikeLike
I feel the pain in this! Nice write!!
LikeLike
I really like how you physically set ‘deliberately’ apart from the rest of the poems with hyphenation. It adds emphasis to it that reflects the bitterness and anger of the poem.
LikeLike
I love it when readers get the hidden nuances! Thanks to you all for your comments and for visiting.
LikeLike
nicely done and well expressed….thanks for sharing this
LikeLike
I’m haunted by the line break at the very end – “you wanted to give” – is that hope on the part of the speaker despite rejection – or bitterness?
LikeLike
Thanks, Wayne.
I wish I could say it’s hope, Mr. Walker, but I’d be lying.
LikeLike