Credulity

I never had the rug ripped out from under me

Independence came in small doses 

of the gummy vitamins my parents fed me

In their shelter I was left most vulnerable 

naivety spilling from wide-watery eyes

They always held my hands

even when they grew calluses 

even when they were full of things to do

even when walking barefoot on the beach

at night the sea is deep and black 

I was never afraid to reach into the dark water

take hold of trust and lift it to my chest

feel its slippery twists and turns

If I could have learned

not to hold trust outstretched in my open palm

I wouldn’t have known what it feels like to forgive

what it feels like to forgive blindly

I didn’t know you gave her bits of you

the same bits you made me think 

were reserved for me

If I could have learned to keep my heart

within the confines of my ribcage

maybe I wouldn’t know love

maybe I wouldn’t have

followed you

when you said “Can we try again?”

Reviews

[kublakhan27]

A powerful and poignant piece...it made me think of that adage that says it's better to have lost in love than never have loved at all...I never did believe in that notion, and the feelings you've relayed in this piece give me no reason to change that stance...great work Melanie :)

[Leandro Mendez]

felt the pain, great piece, love the way you wrote this :)

[Luke L]

Lovely piece I really like how you tie this together to how you were conditioned as a child where you show the genesis of your trust and where it leads

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

I liked how you used water as something seemingly benign, then dangerous. Profound feelings of being betrayed, well expressed. Well done!

[Sam]

Such a sad poem but I have been there.
So beautifully wrote. Thank you for the share.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Awwww, this is so sad! The sense of disillusionment in this poem is very profound- I interpret this as being about a sheltered young girl who learns the cruelties of life very abruptly when her boyfriend cheated on her and betrayed her trust. *hugs the speaker*

[Melanie Genevieve]

thanks for the hug

[Melanie Genevieve]

thanks for the hug love

[wunder]

~"If I could have learned to keep my heart
within the confines of my ribcage"~
~what a wonderfully nostalgic poem-and i love
the first verse as well-it's an excellent piece~
~great write~ :)

[Sage Gabrielle]

Your poems makes me feel :(