Lotus Eaters

I imagine the rage began with his leaving.
He left for many reasons.

Some good...some not.

Bitterness supplants rage. The heart hardens,

the tongue turns venomous,

poisoning even the wellspring of life.

Men try to heal you with the fire between their thighs
but regret and loathing smothers desire,

letting coldness seep
to freeze tender hearts.

It is not within you to forgive them-

these lusty lotus-eaters.
A pound of flesh must be paid,

for the one who walked away.

Reviews

[Mary C]

Nice one! Much enjoyed, thank you for sharing

[Blake Fodor]

This is wonderful, and such great wisdom in this piece. You are brilliant

[Abdul Batin Osman Bey]

Rage of a broken heart well expressed

[Tai Ryens]

Your choice of using what I presume to be the lotus flower as a symbol associated with those that attempt to fill their desires in ways that won't fulfill them confused me at first glance, the lotus often being a symbol for rebirth, or for purity, or for fortune. Upon second thought, it all made sense to me: the lotus, being known to bloom in the mud and being known to symbolize rebirth, thriving, only to be eaten by those that had wanted it earlier than it was due. Quite fitting in a way that fulfills the illusion that "we are what we eat," yet in a way that just shows how addicting the illusion can get, and what lengths we would go to retrieve said flower. Well done, well done.

[John Anderson]

Your words enchant the reader with amazing beauty... This is truly a beautiful poem filled with stunning words and imagery...

[Leslie Philibert]

you handle this well, and put this classic subject in a new light, fine..

[Susan Beth Horvath]

This is beautiful... The imagery and word choice amaze me

[Wandering Minstrel]

I love this beautifully and quite eloquently penned piece

[Coyote Poetry]

"these lusty lotus-eaters.
A pound of flesh must be paid,
for the one who walked away.'
Nice use of thoughts. I did like the above lines. I wonder would the payment be enough? Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Lyn Anderson]

Wow. I definitely love this poem. It has a quiet anger to it, that is much more subtle than most of my love gone wrong writes. In the faves!