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

[Ginger]

I felt every emotion in this poem and I can relate. Well done

[pheasant]

heavy burdens carried far and wide
feel a need to make themselves hide
but alas and farewell
in time they will tell
a story of the heart
as these burdens depart

[Angela]

What a beautiful travesty. So much pain written with such emotion. So eloquent and real. I love the straight forward way you have written this.

[Alicante lullaby]

i have been away from home studying in hostel...so i can relate.

[Natalie]

Excellant conveyance of the complex emotions of grief!

[J.M]

Beautiful poem, sad the way we lose loved ones. You really captured the combination of anger, frustration and monotony. Thanks for sharing this.
Jess.

[*]

I understand...

[bazil zerinsky]

a well written piece that i believe many can relate to. my only suggestion:

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

perhaps change "from the tree" to "from the branches"...or something like that. using the word tree twice in the same verse i feel breaks the flow a bit...feels repetitive.

other than that, nicely done!

[Timtim]

This is really deep... Expressing a pain, deep within the surface. The imagery was intense. I think one of the strengths of the piece is the setting, using the worlds joyous moments to describe ones pain...
Nice write.