eating me from the outside in

he asked me why I changed

your ways started
eating me
from the outside in.
so I took the
potato chips
in the bed
that no longer
had a dent
from your side.

the more I ate
the less I felt
the hole you left
as you gorged upon me.
I wrapped myself
in blankets
of cream cheese
until it no longer
worked to cover my pain.

I looked in the mirror
and didn't see
the me I used to be.
I crawled out from
under the wrappers
and began to run,
limping at first,
but eventually,
I picked up the pace.


I no longer needed   
all that extra weight
to survive,

and along with you,

I shed all the things
that were eating me
alive.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Neville]

Good girl... that's the way to do it, and once done, write about it.....that's what I say... Neville

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks. It seems a long time ago now

[Neville]

A fine and necessary write, I hope it was as cathartic as I imagine it must have been.... N

[Lyn Anderson]

It was. As running was and is. I never would have discovered the high of running had I not had something to run from

[Neville]

Makes sense to me...

[Coyote Poetry]

Easy to fall to food. Hard to stay strong. I like the story in the poem. I liked the happy ending. Thank you for the excellent poetry dear friend.
Coyote

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, well, I am luckier than most, it never did get that extreme as I am healthy and active. But I do understand the lure.

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too. I didn't use food. I used beer and alcohol.

[Matching Socks]

Sometimes we switch one vice for another...
I love the good strong ending.

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, well, in the end I dumped two vices, and one man, (also a vice) and took up running and kickboxing, not exactly vices, but definitely healthier addictions than the ones that came before.

[Matching Socks]

Definitely healthier, good stress relief. I used to box years ago. For that reason, bang it all out.

[Delmar Cooper]

Potato chips are no substitute for real true love. And vice versa.

[Lyn Anderson]

And vice versa, how true.:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

great use of language and metaphor...

getting rid of that extra weight, might allow us to have a few more potato chips...

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, they are yummy when not being used as a substitute for love.:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like the wavy Lays...you can dip them more easily....:)

[Sami Khalil]

"I picked up the pace.


I no longer needed
all that extra weight
to survive,

and along with you,

I shed all the things"

Wow. Wonderful self awakening and affirmation. I like the tinge of humor too...Bravo..............

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, Sami, as always for your thoughtful review.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:).......................

[Fran Marie]

You have succeeded and made it through the tough times...great determination of innermost strength within this piece....good job

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, I appreciate it. It really has been a long battle but I am coming out the other side.

[Rene Salinas]

Drop all the excesisve weight indeed. Carrying oneself is already difficult without feeling you're carrying somone else. Time to shed the skin possibly thicker this time and hopefully embark on a journey of discovery of new opportunities. If it was a matter of choice I would go for them things that eat you from inside out...

Thankyou

[Lyn Anderson]

Many lessons learned, yes, thank you.

[therisa]

Good for you, KL. Depression is, a brutal monster, having to face on a daily basis, which I speak from personal experience, of dealing with chronic severe depression, for most of my life. Not sure, if I could start running, like you have. Rather just take my time and walk. Thank you, KL, for sharing this celebratory poem with us. May each day, be better for you.

[Lyn Anderson]

One foot in front of the other and one day at a time. Thanks.

[therisa]

Your welcome.

Think, I'll skip running, for another life, KL.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Deep, deep feeling in this. Vitriol and determination and celebration at having weathered the storm all told in explicit free verse. A biography in ink.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, yes, it's been a journey.