Carvings

I had a huge crush on her.  

She had one too, but not for me.  
So we fell away from each other  
like leaves at season's end.  
 
That winter, there were flurries  
of aches and emptiness,  
as well as a tree out in the woods  
marked with a youthful, naive notion.  
 
20 years later, I ran into her.  
She aged horribly.  
"I led a wild lifestyle," she said,  
as if giving an excuse.  
 
I wish I knew then what I know now.  
Blessings can often-times  
be disguised as a crushing pain  
wrapped in sorrow or disappointment.  
 
That tree in the woods was replaced  
by houses.  
 
I'm glad.

Author's Note

I'm rusty.

Reviews

[FGFRANKLIN]

I like this one. It reminded me of a song, of course. "Ever see a blind man cross the road
Trying to make the other side?
Ever seen a young girl growing old
Trying to make herself a bride?" from "Handbags and Gladrags"
Tom Wolfe wrote, "You can't go home again". Home is always there, where it was but people and places change so it's not the same. I enjoyed the read.

[Relic]

Thank you, FG. See my reply to Nadia below. :)

[nadia dmitri]

Wow I love this piece, I especially loved the line "as if giving an excuse", the ending made me smile, wonderful job :))

[Relic]

Thank you, Nadia. Problems with the site prevent me from commenting but I'll keep trying and will be by your way. :)

[Vol]

Well, Rusty, I'm Vol...
It is a strange thing about aging... it is never what we expect, and I have often said, "A one second decision can cost a lifetime of, well, whatever..." A single bad decision can mean twenty years of child support, or a lifetime as a poet. I have a forty-four-year-old cousin who is homeless, living out of her car with her two dogs. She can't get help, because the shelters won't take pets... I see people in town flailing their arms as they try to ambulate on rubbery legs from meth... What a horrible shame that a tiny baby, suckling its mom should find a path to such darkness. I have a feeling it has been so forever... But still, humanity endures.
Vol

[Relic]

Yes, it does, and sometimes that can be misery for some. Thanks for the comment.

[Akinlolu]

Poetry is disguised in rags, nobody recognises her.
The price for wisdom is often steep. Experience is accompanied with pain but the reward is often wisdom. Hindsight is often accompanied with balanced perspective. A great poem.
Akinlolu

[Relic]

Well said, and thank you, Akinlolu

[Akinlolu]

You are welcome. A beautiful new year to you.

[Chris Shaw]

You aren’t at all rusty Tim. A fabulous little poem here. I would say a great escape. What a pity it took so long though for the illusion to shatter. Better late than never I would say. Much enjoyed. Have a good weekend.

Chris

[Relic]

I appreciate your comment, Chris. Thank you.

[Gee]

Not that rusty:)
Aye, we look back on many things and reflect on what has transpired since.
Enjoyed the read Relic. Lke you I haven't been around much of late.
Hope you are well

[Relic]

Thank you, Gee. I hope you are well too. :)

[IC]

Age and experience has given you wisdom and if you have led a better lifestyle than she, you have come out on top in the end. A very relatable poem for me. I think I have my name scratched in a school desk somewhere in Porto from my youth. I hope that old school furniture has long since been replaced. Sweet etchings at the time can be regrets later in life. I enjoyed your words and emotions expressed.

[Relic]

I appreciate your comment, Izabella. Thank you. :)

[John the Baptist]

Good imagery in this offering that imparts an important truth. Don"t base your view of life on your first judgment of an event. If you had stayed with her, you might have aged horribly, too.

[Relic]

haha, you're so right, John. Thanks.