Thirty-Two Characters

Who knew 32 characters could destroy foundations?

Burn the notes

Delete the texts

Sever all ties

That keep me holding on

 

My eyes scan each note

Each stroke of your hand

Each curl of your letters

Each comma and period

Folding and unfolding them

Till the creases weaken

Becoming soft in my hands

 

Three notes are all I have

One for each stage of us

The beginning

Middle

And end

Love

Determination

And letting go

Each escalating the hurt

 

But they are pieces of you

Evidence of your love for me

Tangible and real

I cannot burn the notes

 

My eyes scan each text

Reading between the lines

Memorizing your words

Remembering your voice

As you would read them to me

Your soft voice, so full of love

Stopping my heart

 

Many texts are locked

Your declarations of love

Meant only for me

All special to me

Outpourings of your heart

 

But wait....

What’s this I see?

Something that slipped by

Amidst the love and promises

Your signature

 

I tell myself I misunderstand

There has to be a reason why

Your signature lies

And seems to speak

Of missing her

Of wanting her back

Subtle hints

I missed back then

 

Confusion swallows me

And in anger and pain

I delete the texts

 

I want to call you two-faced

You who tell me of your love

And desire to be with me

Yet at the same time

Tell a different story

Your signature belonging to her

 

What was I to you?

Were your words true?

Did you love me at all?

 

Questions I never would have asked

Now flood my mind

All brought about

By thirty two characters

 

Time gives us new perspectives

And new wisdom is granted

So I must ask

In hindsight

Were you ever mine?

Reviews

[Undying Glory]

wow this was great work, i sure love this a lot! this was real thought-provoking and potent, heart-breaking too. doesn't it just hurt when you always thought someone loved you and you found out that it had all just been in your head? believe me i know how that feels. this really reminds me how much i hate breaking up using texts. if you're gonna break up, at least say it to the other's face.

"Time gives us new perspectives
And new wisdom is granted
So I must ask
In hindsight
Were you ever mine?"
now i just love that stanza. great writing!

[Priyankaabhilaashi]

Good one..!!!

[Sydney Evans]

Very well written. (:
Loveeeeeee it (:

[Ally Charlotte Piper]

I like your rhythm in this, especially in the first stanza. You really convey the feeling of loss and desperation for something so real and so alive that has gone away. I also liked that in the end you have a question, leaving the intonation of the poem on a higher note vocally than was expected. Great job on this!

[trainwreck]

Poetry regarding texting is really fun to read, and this was exceptionally well-written. I was impressed with how well you wrote this. The story of the love triangle was very well crafted as well. I enjoyed reading it.

[Julie Beth]

this was great amazing job :)

[zirk]

Very original in that you don't read much poetry related to texting, and very well written.

[Margaret Marie Hubbard]

Amazing to me how time has changed love letters into love text. Though the meanings are equal they can be lost easily. If they mean that much then you should place them on paper in a journal. :)

[ColorblindMartian.]

I loved this, the end was definetly my favorite.

[Jessica]

Very good, I like it :)