Release

About a girl's past and how she tries to let go in order to have a better future.

She stopped by the store
On her way home from work
Handing over the payment
Her eyes she did avert.

A short trip to the library
To return that overdue book
She grudgingly paid the fine
About true crimes and crooks

On to the Blue Aquarium
to pick up some fish food
The clerk was oh so slow
And she began to brood.

Her errands were now finished
It was time to get on home
Walking up apartment stairs
Green eyes began to roam.

Locking herself inside
And securing the chain
She breathed a sigh of relief
When it began to lightly rain.

Why was she still nervous?
Why the panic attacks?
Her therapist had assured her
That he wasn't coming back.

It had been so long
Four years and six days
Since she seen him last
And that blood-shot gaze.

She shoved in a goofy movie
Sat with popcorn in her lap
Curled up with a blanket
She just might take a nap.

The images before her
Were boring as could be
She began to imagine life
As far as she could see.

She had been so silly
It could really be okay
She would go to the park
Next sunny Saturday.

It was time to change her life
To put it in the past
Continuing down this path
Her sanity wouldn't last.

Then came a loud knock
upon the wooden door
White popcorn kernels
Scattered to the floor.

She laughed at the thought
of being terrified forever
Silly goose, she called herself
Use your brain; be clever.

Moving the security chain
She opened the door wide.
"Hello," he snarled gruffly
Didn't even try to hide.

The last thing she heard
After a shrill telephone ring
Was the old answering machine
Bad news the voice did bring.

"We're sorry to inform you
He was released today
It was a clerical error
But we'll find him right away."

Author's Note

Please give an overall review on this poem. Thank you!

Reviews

[Mister T.]

I'm amazed by how you keep the flow in the poem, it's like the lyrics of a song. Besides, everything rhymes perfectly. How do you manage to succeed in this poem after poem? It's just amazing :)
Besides that, a very enjoyable poem, and the ending actually shocked me.. That was really unexpected. How the poem seemed to be ending happily as she finally realized that she should forget about the past and then.. Wow.. This poem carries both a great message that everyone should know and a great ending.. I think this is my favourite of yours. Great job Melissa, you've left me stunned once again :)

Edit* One thing I noticed while reading:
"The images before her
Were boring as could be"
Using 'before' here sounds a little bit off, in my opinion, as before is often used as a time indication rather than a place indication. I think 'The images in front of her' sounds way better, and it doens't mess up the flow. Just an advise :)

[MelissaAndres]

Mister T, Thank you so much for your kind comments. It really means a lot to me. I have tried my hand at poetry that doesn't rhyme like numerous people can seem to write but I feel like my rhyming poems are just better. Thank you for your advice. I will take that into consideration.

[Coyote Poetry]

I did enjoy the tale. Nice flow of thoughts led to deadly ending. I liked how you create a scent of fear and the surprise ending. Thank you Melissa for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Coyote Poetry! :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[ANTO]

I'm not wearing my overalls so I'll give a t-shirt and jeans review.

To be honest I was annoyed at the subject at the start for being so guarded and letting others dictate how she lived her life. Then I was annoyed at myself for feeling annoyed at her because perhaps sometimes - in this world - we are meant to be guarded and defensive.
Your rhyming and your thyming is impeccable as always Melissa.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Anto! I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner but I am trying to get some housecleaning done and catch up on things after a good report from my doctor. I am glad this could evoke some emotions. We never know what someone has gone through to make them behave the way they do. I appreciate your nice comments.

[Celie Rose]

I enjoyed reading your poem. I did not quite understand about the panic attacks until the end. Suspenseful and eye opening write. Such a sad story but very believable.."Hello," he snarled gruffly Didn't even try to hide."We're sorry to inform you He was released today It was a clerical error But we'll find him right away."
Well written. Keep writing.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Celie Rose. I just heard on the news the other day about a woman who was brutally beaten and raped by a man years before. The man was in prison for a long time and they failed to inform her when he was released. They never said how she found out but she was terrified. It does happen.

[wordman]

dam,i guess she had a right to be nervous !

[MelissaAndres]

Yep. I know I definitely would be!

[annalysiar]

Oh my goodness the irony just amazing. Its so hard to get tired of your poems

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, annalysiar! I hope you never do get tired of them.

[annalysiar]

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