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 !!

[THERISA]

Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is realize that forgiveness is beyond our ability to grant to another person. No matter how bad, we want to absolve that person. Rather, we have to move on with life and heal ourselves. Thank you for sharing this poem with us.

Therisa

[JanMarie]

Very nicely written. You have done well with expressing the pain of wanting to go with your heart when your brain is telling you the right thing to do. I feel the pain in your words. Nice job. You have a way with repetition that makes it not sound repetitious. It weaves your thoughts together. I like that. By the way, I am a former English teacher, as mentioned before, but I have been known to be a terrible speller, so please forgive.

[lavenderskye]

Nice yes we have all been hurt like this at one time or another. I like the line " I curse my Hand betrays me too" well you know the line. Our mind says no and our body tells us someting different we have all been there I believe you have done this so perfecfly great job.

[Penny Ellen]

Aww! That is so good, but terribly sad!

[An Ordinary Woman]

Beautifully written and so true ... it has all the elements and said so eloquently. Love is so very hard sometimes, isn't it? I sometimes wonder, is it worth it? I dunno, I'm at one of those places where I am questioning love...

I enjoyed this very much and thank you kindly for the nice review of Pray[ing]

[THE BLACK SEAL]

the rhythm of the thing is very nicely done and it conveys your message good. it is a nice piece of writing and you should be proud

[Lau Thiam Kok]

I wish the boy is forgiven. "Let's hurry to love people, they pass so quickly!"

[verless doran]

Nice sentiments. Not really my cup of tea, but nicely done.

[Lori]

This is very emotional and in the moment -- a very powerful moment in which this one decision determines a lifetime.

[RougeAngel]

simply beautiful! i think it really brings out the deepest feelings we have when something like that happens. great job!