Mistress

She stands, waiting, 

wondering, will he 

take me to lunch first? 

He smiles and takes 

her hand. Palms press 

and she smiles back.

See, see how he loves me. 

There is silence then, 

broken only by the guilty 

sound of knifes and forks 

scraping on plates,

as he waits, impatient for 

the fray, whilst she sees 

only what she wants to see. 

Later, there are sighs, 

harsh and fragmented by 

the tapestry of circumstance; 

until satiated, he smiles, 

tells her he loves her.

She smiles back, hearing 

only what she wants to hear. 

He knows of course, he has 

simply to look. Only to 

beckon over his shoulder

and she will stay. 

Guarding herself against 

the uncertainty of tomorrow

and the certainty of being alone. 

Soon, he nods, then takes his leave 

as he always does and ever will; 

And her eyes are like pieces 

of glass, all brittle with the 

rainfall of love. But the echo

of his compassion is no

more than a cloud passing by.

Reviews

[Eilis]

I've been exploring your back catalog, Beccy. You've got some great poems on the back pages. I thought what you managed with this was excellent because it speaks to that willfulness in all of us to create the world that we want. Sometimes we do that by going out and figuring out a path toward what we want, and sometimes we do it by crafting it in our minds.

Even in the best of relationships, it's not always easy to be honest with ourselves about the things that are potentially harmful to us or unworkable. A mistress who hopes for another role someday is almost sure to be disappointed. Yet, as you show, it's not easy to convince someone in love that they are pursuing a dead end relationship.

If only we could see things through other people's eyes and gain clarity at important junctures in our lives. This is a thoughtful poem. Sad, but so true to life.

[Chris]

All the taste of reality... I agree with Roarke.

[roarke]

wow, that last stanza... perfect.

[trekkerj]

this is very nice and i think true until the time of the glassed eyes is through and her life beckons, so much to do.

[ANM]

Unrequited love in whatever form is hard to bear! Very well written and true to life....

[Matching Socks]

So bittersweet. To love someone, but they belong to another.
Very emotionally charged, beautifully written.

[Tree]

Moving piece. An evocative reminder how sometimes we create things that might not actually exist because we want them so much, or that love is at times transient, a ghost... There is no love like the one that slips away, or the one you can not define; and definitely no love like the one that can never be yours.

Well composed, and expressed.

Diego

[JC]

lots of great imagery and metaphor, deep heartfelt and honest.

[Tom]

Yes indeed, love can be blind and indifferent to reality !

A fine sentimental tale of a flawed romance, well crafted indeed !