Now She Can Cry

Thanksgiving come and gone
no one else seemed to notice the empty chair
she was tempted to put a place setting there
but she didn't

And when she felt the tears welling
within her weary blue eyes
she bit her tongue

Gifts bought, wrapped placed beneath
the tree
those Christmas lights seemed to mock her
those that burned brightly but suddenly faded
just like...

She wanted to smash that tree
stomp those gifts. rip those twinkling lights
from those branches
scream at the top of her lungs
but she didn't

And when she felt those tears welt
she squeezed her eyes so tightly closed
everything stayed black for a moment when she opened them -
bit her tongue till she tasted blood -
silent

Fireworks, champagne, a toast to the old
a toast to the new
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
smiling faces, kisses all around

She wanted to, could have dampened those fireworks
salted the champagne with her pent up tears
tore those kisses from lips with her nails
but she didn't

New Years Day -
Christmas turkey gone
only a carcass
one lone piece of soggy pumpkin pie
tree down
people resting

She sits in the bedroom that smells so familiar
still after all this time
from the velvet box,
takes out the lock of hair

Touches gently
smells, feels, holds to her heart
memories wash over her weary body

She lays her head on the pillow
where she last lay
tears flow like rapids
unsung screams burn her throat
tears soak the pillow

Now ...she can cry

Author's Note

First holidays without loved ones .....
I wish you all a Happy New Year , will be around in awhile to read ...
Peace

Reviews

[Magdelena]

OH this was so sad. I so remember a time when I too felt like this. many a time went by while I sat by myself within a crowd and felt so alone. tears fell when the darkness came, and this described exactly what it felt like.. Your imagery was perfection, your words became mine.. Bravo!

Mags xx

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

It seems like this is a very emotional and heart-wrenching piece. The imagery of the empty chair at Thanksgiving, the Christmas tree that seems to mock the speaker, and the memories of a lost loved one are all very powerful and evocative. It's clear that the speaker is struggling with a lot of pain and sadness, but they are also trying to keep their emotions under control. I think the repeated refrain of "but she didn't" is especially poignant, as it shows how the speaker is trying to hold it together even when everything feels like it's falling apart. Overall, this is a very powerful and moving piece that captures the raw emotions of grief and loss.

[Miss Sharon]

A well written and captivating post my friend! ~Sharon

[Fades]

This is so beautiful and sad at the same time. thanks for sharing!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Miss you my friend and so many others who are no longer here at the Cafe'.

[Unspoken poet]

This is such a sad write, but written and expressed so well

[DawnMichelle]

Your words took on a daunting task here.. emotion is such a tough thing to get into words. Me personally.. I like what you did with the pumpkin pie! That one word.. soggy.. gave me some fantastic imagery. Salting the champagne and tearing the kisses from lips were also some really good word choices.

[Gabriele]

Still don't really do holidays 12 years later

[Katsura]

Beautiful. Holidays can be painful and this makes me think of all the tears
I've held in when I'm around family.

[Dagger Jones]

Im not that much o a learnerred reader ,but I know what I likes ,n I loved that lil ditty ...

[Dinesh Kumar]

Nice piece of poetry really sad