Turn of the Knife

The sun sat up on the mountain top

And started to sink from view,

A shadow, spread on the valley floor

Was creeping over you,

You’d just told me that you’d had enough

In the shade of a chestnut tree,

And then I saw in your shrouded smile

That you meant you were through with me.

I didn’t know what I’d done to you,

I thought it was only love,

But then the shadow had covered you

From the mountain top above,

You pulled your hood up over your hair

And wrapped yourself in your cloak,

Said you were going to leave me there

Go off with some other folk.

Your words were cruel, and pierced my heart

I wasn’t aware I’d erred,

You acted as if we’d strayed apart,

There was someone you preferred,

We’d been together so long I thought

That no-one could take my place,

But since you’ve shown that I’m on my own

I’m afraid of losing face.

And so I lie in the Mulberry bush

And I wait to see him here,

His first embrace with the one I love

Will become his last, I fear,

I took the knife from the kitchen drawer

With a view to bring his end,

But now I see as he ventures near

That the cheating one’s my friend.

How could you take my friend from me

As you take yourself away,

It isn’t enough that I’m losing you

But my friend as well, today,

I’ll not be spilling his blood tonight

As I thought I’d surely do,

But all the anger and hurt I feel

Has turned the knife on you.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A wild and powerful tale in the poem my friend.
"I’ll not be spilling his blood tonight
As I thought I’d surely do,
But all the anger and hurt I feel
Has turned the knife on you."
I liked the twist at the ending. Thank you David for sharing your outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[minisla]

Oh the joys of love and friendship bad combination.....

[TPK Stories]

What a twist to this ending. Loved it. Great work, David.

[IamRealTusoul]

Thanks for sharing, its an outstanding piece

[richieb]

You told this tale well, lost love cuts deeper than any knife. Love has no hilt on its blade, when it pierces it knows no depth. Thank you, Richie B.

[R Smith]

powerful emotions in this poem David, the twist in the tail done perfectly as always, a truly great story of love turning to hate :)

[andrew mitchell]

A cruel sad write as Justice prevailed I think in the end lol A cracker of a yarn til the end full of surprises

[gentlekindness]

You could adapt this into lyrics for a song. It could work well.

[gentlekindness]

Wow, Very vivid and powerful story poem. It reminds me of the old folk song "On the Banks of the Ohio" There was a version by Joan Baez but the song is older than her. I have played the song many times when I performed guitar and singing in bars.
Annie

[Philip Muls]

Excellent writing. You capture a scenario here that seems to repeat itself through history. It seems as fate wants to double down on the tragedy of losing the one you love by adding another layer of grieve. Exponential hurt can bring insanity as you describe so well.

[FreedomFighter]

love is a powerful entity, and youve captured that aspect quite well, please review my work too