At An Impasse

Biting down on the rim of a wine glass, 

I dare it to break for bloody cathartic release; 

there’s too much buttered rage spread across

a skinny square of over-toasted bread,

beginning to tear across its narrow waist.

My eyes fixate on your moving mouth,

sounds knock against walls, floors, and plates,

mumbled by the deafening wave of red flags

multiplying themselves like the devil’s snowflake, 

while I watch your arms dance in the cold air.

This situation has become our regular song,

replaying on a broken Juke box in a dark cellar,

where I serve myself desires never fulfilled 

and you complain about my “unquenchable” thirst,

solutions hidden behind the shabby, black curtain. 

How much longer will I try to recognize you,

digging under cement to recover your former self,

pieces I glue to you with a perfectionist’s touch,

searching for your charmed smile and speckled eyes,

lost somewhere between shades of criticism and regret?

Remembering you too hard to leave your side,

I soak in a fantasy-like hope for romantic resurrection, 

crying quietly because our rituals are useless, 

laughing silently because the script is predictable,

still biting down, caring less about cutting my gums. 

Reviews

[Jibey]

This is a powerful write, exposing so painfully the struggle in a limping relationship, where unfulfilled desires are battered with negativity and indifference. The images are strong and telling, the dashed hopes lost in bitter nostalgia and anger and frustration. Raw and real.

[Kay]

I like your choice of adjectives to summarize it: limping, unfulfilled, battered. Thanks for your thoughtful review and compliments Jibey.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the imagery is splendid here...the rituals of an evening at dinner where the arguments ensue...she wants to bite down on his tongue and sarcasm and instead bites down on the wine glass...thinking of having another then another so that she cannot recognize herself...cutting her gums because she hasn't sense enough or guts enough to leave...the criticism is overwhelming...and his former self, the one she loved...has disappeared somewhere in this new persona.
j.

[Kay]

Thank you for your great comments Jacob, you hit the nail on the head here. =)