Poor, Poor Me

Where did you come from, my demon friend,

sporting tall, dark and handsome like (perfection) in sin?

With all that black hair falling down,

almost hiding those bedroom eyes

      (perfection), in deep mahogany brown.

How did you grow to six foot three (perfection)

Was it God or Satan sent you to torture poor me?

 

My sister told me, “If he looks too good to be true,

He’ll be a walking pile of trouble for a person like you.”

She laughed, but I let you in.

 

How did you know

I’d like to see the need in your sultry smile? (perfection)

When did you decipher my jaded cold style?

Decide you could break away all that ice?

Was that it? a challenge, and nothing nice?

Perhaps a bet or just a dare

That backfired along the way somewhere?

 

My sister told me, “If his wooing is too good to be true

He’ll be a walking pile of trouble for an innocent like you.”

She laughed but I let him in.

 

You never had a single doubt you could own me,

And you did, God save me, you did.

You did become my God, (perfection)

My God! Like no other man before you.

Why, oh why did you dive into my soul,

And blind me like a dream come warm from heaven,

A dream hot from hell?

Where did you get that flawless skin,

Warm and soft, all male and stretched taught

         over youth & strength and oh, poor me...

 

Wearing that tiny blue sparrow on your left shoulder blade

         to emphasize just how beautifully you’re made.  (perfection)

You earned it, you crossed the equator, you said, but which one, I pray?

An equator of the mind? of morality? of the heart?

You smiled wickedly when you said you’d breached the gateway to hell.

I laughed, but now I know it’s true

I’m not one woman, but one of more than a few

Who knows it to be true.

 

My sister told me, “If his love is too good to be true

He’ll keep a stable of women just like you.”

She laughed, but I let you in.

 

Such an enigma:

            Truths and lies

            How mellow, how mean

Holding on to a sweet, sweet dream

    of the peace and pleasure that made me stay.

My lover giveth, my lover taketh away.

The newspaper reminds me almost every day

   of how much I’ve left behind.

            Both good and bad

(You guessed it) Both happy and sad.

Men like you are in the movies,

       and women like me are in the obituaries.

 

Oh, my sometime sweet, sweet baby, the reason for all this woe,

It’s past time for me just to let you go.

I won’t drown in that proverbial river of tears

Or smother facing lonely, restless years,

Years I won’t return to you, poor me,

To die there in your arms, or at your whim.

I’ll tell you once again

I won’t go back there to die

In your arms or at your whim.

 

My sister forgot to tell me if a man acts like you,

Turn around and run.

 

Reviews

[Emily B]

how did I miss this? I thought I had read all of your words . . .

[*** Hey Jude***]

Your expressive writing draws me in, and lets me feel your emotions as if I was walking with you in that time and that place. Isn't amazing how we let men try and rule our life until we see what a mess they can make of it and unfortunately as you said...
"Men like you are in the movies, and woman like me are in the obituaries."
Unfortunately some don't realize until thinking they wish they were in the grave rather than with some so called "men". Fortunately there are still some good one out there ;-)! LOL, Love the ending ~ Jude xo :-)

[Lorraine Pearson]

How come the sister was sooooooo wise??? I really enjoyed this one from beginning to end. Thank you STARDUST for putting it in your favorites...I clicked on it immediately. Great write--simply said.
~Lorraiyne

[STARDUST]

I love It!, this poem hits home because the female in this poem was me not too long ago.
Well done.

[Lena]

Your sister knew, that's why she laughed.
I enjoyed the journey of you story telling, Very well written, vivid with palpable emotions.

[Gandré]

Absolutely wondrous writing! The perfection of painting in sadness, exhilarating read.

[Lydia Shutter]

The raw honest emotion with which you wrote this blew me away, Mimi! The world is filled with part evil and part good. It is when we experience too much of one that we are unbalanced and can not find serenity. I hope writing this piece helped you and gave you a catharsis of sorts. This is extremely well written. I am hopeful you will find true happiness in your life. Lydia

[Bubo]

what a stunning piece...........blew me away, so deeply emotional and personal, and reminds me much of
myself, when someone seems so perfect, sheer perfection as they stand before you, that you see nothing else.Why is it everyone else can I wonder?
And you are trapped, sucked in, and lost. Your description of "him" is so raw, so real and so captivating, so many lines I felt I was you...........and eventually you must get out, knowing there will be never another like him.........

My lover giveth, my lover taketh away.

The newspaper reminds me almost every day

of how much I've left behind.

Both good and bad

(You guessed it) Both happy and sad.

Men like you are in the movies,

and woman like me are in the obituaries.

Yes, they drain you dry, your sisters advice throughout kept hitting home what he stood for, yet he still came through that door.
Fantastic write, although it must have been a hard write, but I so admire your strenght.

[Raven Held]

This is a really personal piece close to the heart. I admire your courage in sharing this. Hope you're doing a lot better now that you've fought your way out of the shadow cast by your ex. You're really lucky to have your sister; sounds like you two are close.

Your constant biblical references and juxtaposition of the dichotomy of good and evil, heaven and earth, God and the Devil are powerful, conveying the magnitude of your suffering. Just curious (though this might be a little too personal; it's okay if you don't wish to answer this): was the relationship a love-hate one when your ex starting the abuse (because you used words that described his 'perfection', but later pinned that down)?

Brilliant rhyme scheme, succinct diction and fine overall form. A top-quality poem if I ever saw one. This one's going under my Faves.

Stay strong, and keep loving no matter what.

Best regards,
Raven