Once Bitten Twice Shy

Once Bitten Twice Shy

A Poem by Chris Shaw
"

An oldie gasping for an airing

"
Through blinkered eyes she gave to him
her love both pure and true,
and on his shoulders trust she placed
for all that he might do.

As promises are made to keep
and he had sworn a pledge,
she never thought his faithlessness
would drive her to the edge.

Nor did she question any lies,
assuming he was ill.
So harder still, she tried to please,
yet warmth reduced to chill.

Then came the day he stayed away,
the turning of the screw.
She searched for answers one by one,
she found them clue by clue.

Left on her own within their home,
rejected full of pain,
she rummaged in her memories
for reasons though in vain.

The days passed by, the seasons changed
she lived with disbelief
and knew that she would trust no more
for fear of further grief.

© 2018 Chris Shaw


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Featured Review

Superbly written Christine. It may just be the3 way I am reading this, but the flow of it overall is uplifting, even whimsical, which plays against the subject of the piece, broken trust.
I think most, if not all can relate to this, the feeling of devastation, caused by someone we loved of all people. I don't know if it is universal, but to me that is the ultimate betrayal, to have everything you gave thrown back in your face, by someone we didn't even resalise was wearing a mask in the first place. These are the hardest of all to get over, in my humble opinion. Hopefully the day came that they realised that it is not their fault, to be conned by a fraudster, who will do it again and again, until karma bites his or her a*s....Or someone does it to them and shows them first hand the devastation they have caused. We can hope at least :)

Posted 6 Years Ago


2 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

An old write Lorry, but betrayal of this nature is very hard to forget. As you say the trust is comp.. read more
θεά 

6 Years Ago

Agree with Lorry's and your comments on this.

Sorry, it is a theme one can only relat.. read more



Reviews

Pain and regret can be our teacher. Also make us wiser. We learn to move slow and easy into love. I liked and understood the journey in your words. Thank you Christine for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

We do indeed learn by our mistakes Coyote. Thank you so much for reading and responding with such wi.. read more
Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

You are welcome dear Chris.
Beautifully written. One that too many people can relate to. We want to believe the lies and the covers even when we know the truth until there are no more lies to believe. It is a sad scene, but it is an inevitable one that everyone seems to have to go through. However, it seems that one can never be prepared for it when it happens. A very realistic piece, with not a happy ending, but one that can be believed. I really enjoyed reading your work, amazing job, well done.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

Thank you Eve. I very much appreciate your visit to my page and your kind comments. Yes, unfortunate.. read more
Eve

6 Years Ago

I like to think everything we go through teaches us something, or we grow with our problems.
What a horrid awakening it must be. To love and cherish someone so completely only to find that when you need them they are not there. You write strongly and passionately.

Take care - Dave

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

Unfortunately this is a theme that many will understand. Thank you Dave for giving my words your con.. read more
Gosh Chris!

You have written an experience all too relatable. Driving the truth home, of how hapless a woman feels in the hands of a deceitful, vile person- in whom she had mistakenly placed her trust. How emotionally dependent one makes herself, when she succumbs to the lies and sweet false promises, only to be shaken by eventual disclosure of his falsehood.

Trust once shaken, is hard to refurbish. Perhaps rightly so.

But there are better people than such men, in whom you took pity, in whom you had faith even after your first gut instinct told you "his eyes are belying his avowed innocence", even after your friends had urged you to not consider such a lowly match, even after your well-wishers had asked you to not trust a man with a vicious, mean, deceptive streak.

Sometimes we give in to our compassion. Sometimes we take a while to wake up. But when we finally do, the journey to redemption is worth it.

Take care, Chris.

Best,
M.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

Dear Mallika, I thank you so much for such a thorough response, so thoughtfully given. When the wake.. read more
Superbly written Christine. It may just be the3 way I am reading this, but the flow of it overall is uplifting, even whimsical, which plays against the subject of the piece, broken trust.
I think most, if not all can relate to this, the feeling of devastation, caused by someone we loved of all people. I don't know if it is universal, but to me that is the ultimate betrayal, to have everything you gave thrown back in your face, by someone we didn't even resalise was wearing a mask in the first place. These are the hardest of all to get over, in my humble opinion. Hopefully the day came that they realised that it is not their fault, to be conned by a fraudster, who will do it again and again, until karma bites his or her a*s....Or someone does it to them and shows them first hand the devastation they have caused. We can hope at least :)

Posted 6 Years Ago


2 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

An old write Lorry, but betrayal of this nature is very hard to forget. As you say the trust is comp.. read more
θεά 

6 Years Ago

Agree with Lorry's and your comments on this.

Sorry, it is a theme one can only relat.. read more
Very well written and well expressed. Inner feelings have to come out with some amount honesty and your writing has that quality !
...........................................................................................................................................................................

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

Thank you Anand Sehgal for your thoughtful response. Much appreciated.

Chris
This is such a beautiful and at the same time, sad poem. It affected and moved my heart..
Wonderfully done!

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

It was a hard one to write, but I can read it now years later and it doesn't leave a mark on me. Tha.. read more
Flowers of Eternity

6 Years Ago

No problem!
This happens and sadly there’s pretty little one can do about it. The worst part is that it tends to rob one’s faith in oneself, which for some is very hard to restore, for some, it’s almost impossible. Your words strike such a chord here, Chris.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

Thank you DIVYA. So true what you are saying. I've known some who bounce back and others who remain .. read more
AYVID N

6 Years Ago

I’m still not out of the shadows totally but hopefully getting there. Thank you so much Chris! It�.. read more
Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

Thank you so much and hopefully you will be feeling much better soon.
Now, this speaks loud. And says it all Chris. Wonderful write and expressed. A woman hurt and lied to. By a man she adored.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

6 Years Ago

That just about sums it up Dawn. Thank you for responding. Have a good day.

Chris
Onlyme

6 Years Ago

And you Chris. Dawn.

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Added on September 10, 2018
Last Updated on September 10, 2018

Author

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Berkshire, United Kingdom



About
Albert, my paternal grandfather introduced me to Tennyson when I was nine. I have loved poetry ever since but did not attempt writing a single piece until I was 40. It's never too late to try somethin.. more..

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