End it!

He knew what he wanted to say to her,

He knew what he wanted to do,

He’d step right up to her open door

And he’d quickly say, ‘We’re through!’

Her eyes would show she was startled then,

He thought that her jaw would drop,

But he would turn, walk swiftly away,

And leave with his head held up.

 

He’d seen her walking out in the park

And he thought he’d seen them kiss,

While he’d been walking there in the dark

With his Mathematics Miss.

She’d flagged him down, and said that his work

Was poor, that he had to choose,

Whether to chase that silly girl or

Square the hypotenuse.

 

All that she wanted to talk was sine

And something she said was tan,

She’d filled his head up with algebra

But seemed to depress the man.

She’d put her arm round his shoulders then

And said she would help him through,

‘All that you need is a little work

And you’ll be so pleased when you do!’

 

While Sally had seen her cousin there

Skipped up to him in the dark,

‘Fancy me seeing you way out here

At night, in the Bowling Park!

I thought you were still in Africa

But happen on you, like this!’

Then threw her arms up around his neck

And gave him a cousinly kiss.

 

They parted then and she turned away

And she saw a sight in the dark,

It looked like Jim, it was surely him

With a woman, there in the park.

She had her arm round his shoulders, they

Looked cosy, walking away,

She bit her lip and her mind went flip

As her world turned bleak and grey.

 

She knew what she wanted to say to him,

She knew what she wanted to do,

She’d step right up to his open door

And she’d quickly say, ‘We’re through!’

His eyes would show he was startled then,

She thought that his jaw would drop,

But she would turn, walk swiftly away,

And leave with her head held up.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

One's own insecurities cause a person to jump the gun and shoot holes through his perception. All that remains is a life riddled with bullet holes, and innocent people get hurt in the process. I love how this poem/story came full circle with the beginning and ending stanzas.

Just another excellent story in the volume that is you! :-)

[TL Boehm]

another wonderful story and quite relatable. We all do this I believe. Misconceptions abound in the human heart.

[Tennessee]

Great misunderstanding. Just like so many I've seen.

[Anand Sehgal]

A poem that tells about clear-cut priorities. good one . these is fair amount of conflict in it.

[Emerald Seas]

Misunderstandings are the root of many a breakup...

Both are fools for not willing/wanting to get to the bottom of what they each saw. I say they should stay together so no one else will be subjected to their terrible communication skills.

Excellent writing as always, David.

[Marie]

I hope they both got what they wanted.