10 years.

A decade has passed, yet the longing persists.

 Connection, once elusive, now seems impossible, 

tainted by the bitterness of the past.

I profess my love, but its depth remains uncertain.

 In the realm of dreams, you are idealized, flawless. 

Reality, however, is a stark contrast.

 Our laughter, once joyous, now echoes hollowly.

Once, we envisioned a future together,

 young and naive.

 Then came the betrayal, a wound that refused to heal.

 Your departure left an enduring void.

Ten years together has only deepened the enigma.

 Why can’t I relinquish this hold?

 A part of me yearns for something more, something different.

Caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions,

 I find myself lost.

 Love and hate, need and detachment intertwine, 

leaving me bewildered.

Our shared nights, filled with unspoken understanding,

 are a testament to our inability to sever the ties that bind us.

Ten years. A decade of longing,

 of pain, and of enduring hope

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

relationships sometimes teeter on the edge…..and then all of a sudden we part… yet the pain of separation is emotional and sometimes not understood….. yet some good come out of them even if we must go our separate ways….we learn from that and we must move on….
nice work!
warmly, B🌷

[Hallow]

Lovely poignant poem. A testament to years invested in something, but being uncertain if it really yielded anything in the end. Really captures the high points and the low points of a decade of trials and tribulations.

[Aarti Sriram]

There has to be sweetness which brings two people close and there has to be some bitterness which made them apart but there are those special emotions which keeps the bond in our minds. They say when we feel so deeply for someone with whom we used to be connected then that other person must also be experiencing our sentiments albeit with lesser intensity. Dont know if what happened was for the good for both of you but you have lived and moved on almost and 10 years is a long period dear @ Antifranticbabydoll.That intimacy and unspoken understanding should have lessened after the hurt and the other persons departure.The void and emptiness should have filled up with a more meaningful and present life and hobby. Let time heal your emotional struggle and the dual internal tension.
Let betrayal not triumph over you dear and replace your raw hurt with new clarity and love for yourself, a better life to cherish now on.. Your words and flow of thought is very touching. How the poem glitters out in its sentiment and imagery rich in emotion and keeps us readers totally invested. Passionately written on a very deceptive and fatal death of love and turn of events.

[Antifranticbabydoll]

Thnak you for your thoughtful review.

[Twilight]

Well, this poem says a lot; and would have been easier to interpret - if structured in verses. However, by presenting the different thoughts and feelings like this; it helps add intensity. Also, helps emphasise; how all these thoughts are swirling around together in the ✍️ writer's mind..?

The thoughts and feelings have been expressed well, so much of your readership should be able to make sense of them.

For example, the stark contrast between "reality" and the "realm of dreams". Frustratingly, despite her uncertainty over losing the object of her adoration; she still seems fixated by a "whirlpool of conflicting emotions".

Implicitly, she probably still loves him. Even, "10 Years" after the relationship ended. Curiously, almost at the very end; it reads of "an inability to sever the ties that bind us". Possibly, that's because the two lovers have certain shared experiences from the past?

Sadly, despite him leaving you for someone else; you still "can't relinquish this hold". So, the writer seems to be "hoping against hope"; that she'll one day find a means to rekindle the passionate romance with her former lover...? Love can be both blind, and sometimes foolish. And, even in some very enduring romantic relationships; there are times when "love hurts"...

[Antifranticbabydoll]

Your thoughtful input is always welcomed.
I don't have much to say in response, as to keep certain things private.
Thank you for your review, -M

[Twilight]

Good to know, and understand what you mean.

[emmajoygreen]

Such honest pain start to finish. Your phrases are laid in raw sadness throughout. The following speaks to a wall knowing it won't and can't reflect yet more hurt..

' Love and hate, need and detachment intertwine,
leaving me bewildered.
Our shared nights, filled with unspoken understanding,
are a testament to our inability to sever the ties that bind us.
Ten years. A decade of longing,
of pain, and of enduring hope'

[Antifranticbabydoll]

Thnk you for your review :) -M

[Ballpark Frank]

Wow. Very nice descriptions of common situations that exist everywhere. We all are trying to be happy, yet life just keeps throwing us those wicked curves!

[Antifranticbabydoll]

Thanks for the review Franky