Unfinished Business

 

We sit on the bed, for a talk we cannot postpone

The cadence begins, the bugle is blown

Our standards fly high, as we head for the field

Our family at stake, neither ready to yield

I lob the first volley, you go quietly blank

Your thoughts, once so apparent, now hide past your flank

 

Your turn to fire, you ask if I’ll listen

I tell you I’ll try, but my eyes start to glisten

With tears as I grasp you’ve not heard me at all

I reach for a tissue as they start to fall

Between you and I there has grown a deep chasm

I let out a breath and I shake with a spasm

 

Your eyes, once so tender, now look with disdain

At the one who loves you, but is wracked with such pain

My shield raises up, my defense again armed

My sword to the ready, I will not be harmed

I hurl hurtful words, to the one I love most

I cannot control it, I already feel like a ghost

 

You talk of our future, I can’t see past tonight

You can’t see my desire is to take wing in flight

Two hours have passed in our battle royale

A truce we must call, and our weapons corral

You kiss my cheek, and touch me so tender

You wear down the will of the fiercest defender

 

I cast off my armor, your mail set aside

Need for comfort now greater than anyone’s pride

Your eyes again gentle, your kisses so warm

Your touch on my skin, my desire does transform

No longer at war, no more will to disparage

We lay unfinished business on the altar of our marriage.

Reviews

[Lyanth]

Captures the struggles and tension between a married couple that I myself have witnessed so often. Sometimes it feels as if everything is over, it's not. With love comes trial, persistence and devotion are key and you won't always have it easy or get your way, but what you need to decide is if the person you want to promise your life to is worth it. If you can't say for sure they are, it's better not to promise. Because once you have, you will bear the burdens as well as the benefits. Giving up should not be an option if you really love someone, even though at times it feels like it's for the best. Thank you for sharing this. It's a beautiful piece.

[kinza adil]

wonderful... wonderful imagery, wonderful rhyme and rhythm, wonderfully carried out. and most wonderful of all, the ending, which sums up so much in one single line.

[Mark]

"...let not the sun set upon your wrath..."
How perfect, that as evening approaches, they see one another as they once saw one another,
sans 'armor' and 'mail', and recognize that their love is greater than their petty squabble, and
have sufficient maturity to allow their passion to supplant their pain! Beautifully wrought!

[Samuel Dickens]

This seems to have a happy ending, or mostly happy, at least. How I hope it will stay that way.