I Set It Down

Sometimes grudges, past hurts are nurtured as if they are our children. We name them and hold them dear to us. But what happens when one is lost?

I set it down

just a second ago…

that Grudge I’ve been holding...

now where did it go?

 

It’s not in my Baggage

of Past Hurt and Pain.

nor is it in Pride.

Is it hiding In_Sane?

 

Without it I just won’t

know what to do

on that some-day day

when I bump into you.

 

I might have to accept

that this is the end

of the heart-to-heart combat

of used-to-be friends.

Author's Note

still a WIP, comments welcome

Reviews

[quinfinn]

first of all, it is promising that you initially set down that grudge. secondly, the fact that you seem to have lost it is pure poetry...this write is very imaginative and quite well thought out. a lesson for life's better values encompassed within a very poignant and clever prose. well done!

[Mary]

Thanks, Quinn. It's pointless to stay angry when one has forgotten what the fight was about,eh? I've learned that carrying on and silly drama is a waste of time, and I'm old enough to know how precious time is.

[quinfinn]

time and love are more precious than all the world's treasures combined. you are welcome, Mary

[Richard🖌]

Dear Mary,
Any time one can let go of old angers and lay down the gauntlet of sadness is a day worthy of such a deeply-meaningful poem, and I cannot imagine how it could be more clearly and admirably put than You have here.
How sweetly you explain it all by the metaphorical misplacing of enmity, and how genuinely enjoyable and originally-creative the notions you've employed truly are … I particularly like verse three, where you'll be all confused, and the sheer brilliance in wordplay with "on that someday day" (someday is one word), when you bump into her, and your deft use of hyphens is spot-on.
In the line with In_Sane, consider using a space n-dash space ( In — Sane ), rather than the underline; just a thought shared.
Such a positive, hopeful message for us all to simply "Let-go, be friends, and allow happiness have a chance for a change, eh?"

I love it, Mary … you are quite a gal! ⁓ Richard

(I really do not have much other helpful critique for this one that would amount to much, Mary, but you might revisit V3L1 and move "won't" to L2 … the way it is, is a wee bit awkward in flow … won't hurt to try it and see.)

[Mark]

"...the heart-to-heart combat of used-to-be friends."
You use the hyphen both creatively and correctly. It has become nearlly as passe as the semicolon, but can add so much by the making of complex thoughts from simple words. I would, I think, omit it at "some-day day"...in fact (though I understand your reason for its use), I believe I'd use another term than some-day--I found the two "d's" somewhat jarring. Perhaps "far-off", or "future"?

[Mary]

I'm very late (at least 2 years) with the proper thank you. THANKS SO MUCH! You're right about that some day thing. I'll get on it today. Thank you again for your helpful input. Always welcome and appreciated.

[steppenwolf]

Thoughtful and lovely.

[Mary E Green]

Beautiful- talks to me of the day I let go and forgave and realized it is not about me - that forgiving was not excusing the other but about healing myself. Love this!

[Mary]

Thanks, Mary. Forgiveness is not a band-aid, but a true healing experience, eh?

[Mary E Green]

Exactly :)

[RachelReaper]

I think I should follow your lead and let go of some of my grudges... I'm still holding onto one from when i was four years old... there is a great amount of wisdom in this and I enjoyed reading it.

[Mary]

no point in holding on if you can't remember what they were in the first place... ah the blessings of getting old ;-)

[Relic]

I held grudges when I was younger but they're useless and don't help a bit. Good poem with good rhymes.

[Mary]

thanks. writing the poem was such a healing experience for me.

[Relic]

I'm glad to hear that. I think it's fine the way it is personally speaking.

[not here]

Huh - good one!
Clever (and concise in a quirky kind of way...)
Thanks for sharing, Mary. I enjoyed the compassion in it.

[Mary]

thanks for your kind review, not here. Glad you enjoyed it.

[M.M.I]

I liked it. It seems to speak of progress..one let go of a grudge and is learning how to live without it, peacefully, without regret or disdain. It's a strange thought to ponder, that one could be at total peace with something as villainous as a grudge.

[Mary]

thanks. Time has a way of sorting things out so that sometimes we can't even remember the feud; we know we are supposed to hate someone, but can't quite remember why.

[Baby Ricochet]

I once left a grudge at a bar but the goddamn thing walked home. This was a great poem. Thank you for writing it Mary, I loved it.

[Mary]

they do tend to wander, thankfully. thanks for the kind review.