Mercy

A sad smile graces his lips as his hand comes forward to caress my cheek.
“Don’t touch me!”  I exclaim, seeming like a feral kitten.
He knows I dare not strike.

“Please…” He pleads.
And I know I have hit a nerve.

“I can’t bear it..”  I stammer. 
Why won’t he just leave me alone?
The tears in his eyes reflect the sadness in my own.
I cannot help but pity him.

Lovers, we once were.
But his worldly ways would not sate.
For I, alone, could not satisfy him.

In the worst way,
He left me.
In the worst way,
He betrayed me.

And now,
Here he is.
Begging for mercy--
My mercy.

But it is not mine to give.
I shall never give what is not mine to give.
Just as I shall never take what is not mine to take.

Once, I gave him my heart, my soul--
My everything,
And he spurned me.

He wants forgiveness.
He wants mercy.
But I cannot give him what is not mine to give.

“Go…” I say to him.
“Please…”  I beg of him.
I try to feign indifference.
But my voice betrays me.
This, he can see.
For his silence tells me everything.

As he turns to walk away,
I curse my outstretched hand as it, too, betrays me.
I won’t deny it--
I long for him.

But he is not mine to take.
I shall never take what is not mine to take.
Just as I shall never give what is not mine to give.

Reviews

[Lucinda Bogart]

What can I say that hasn't already been said ?? Wonderful.....I mean really really good...the betrayal of a lover, the betrayal of self...the self loathng for needing and wanting and giving in. Haven't we all felt that way at some time or the other or one relationship or another ?? Great stuff !!

[lady o]

Well written and expresses what anyone could relate to on betrayal. Excellent piece, I don't know how I missed it or what you edited. It is well rounded, the quotation marks well used, not over used, kept me on the edge of my seat of what would happen next, really ~~ Outstanding!!!!

[Cristal Reviewess]

beautiful
i loved it

[Angel Bird]

A very profound piece. Wouldn't it be for the line:

- Lovers, we once were.

I'd say the essence of this piece would be about an abused child not being able to give her father forgiveness, but still loving him as a child will always love its parents. I can't help it, but there are many lines that could result out of abuse.

A very impressive and massively thought provoking write. You've done a marvelous job here! Kudos!

Thanks to Robert Luna for showing me this remarkable work!



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[blue2u]

Once again I know exactly how this feels, amazing how you are able to put my feeling into words. I think that you are a very gifted writer.

[gaurishankar]

Love cannot sustain on mercy. A woman is capable of forgiving and forgetting. A man with repentance and clean mind may be considered as perfect lover. To forgive is the main virtue of love!

[Destiny]

Very powerful. I love the repetitiveness. The imagery is beautiful. You developed the emotion well so that the reader can empathize with both the woman and man. My favorite lines were,

"In the worst way,
He left me.
In the worst way,
He betrayed me."

and

"But he is not mine to take.
I shall never take what is not mine to take.
Just as I shall never give what is not mine to give."

Very moving. Thank you for writing.
♥Destiny♥

[Timely Disposition]

I liked it too. I would say that as a poem it lacks form. That's not an insult though. I just think it's mis-labeled. I like how it's a bit of an inner tennis match. The back and forth is undeniable and it pulls you in.

Grammatically, I wouldn't get rid of the hyphens. They aren't needed and I, as the reader, don't get a feel for their purpose.

Otherwise, Raye, well done.

[penloverfool]

i agree with you; you shall never give what is not yours to give! wonderfully and cleverly crafted piece.

[Captain Blackheart (The..]

A wonderful write. You paint a sad picture of betrayal. This is a brilliant piece cleaverly done!

[Sally Edwards]

Wonderful imagery, I really felt the pain and anguish of being betrayed and then struggling with your own betrayal, excellent writing