The Letters

It was great for a time
Sex and wine
Wine and sex
Then commitment and open and shut curtains.
Special delivery of child made the bond complete
Six months down the line
Breastfeeding was action watched from a distance
Intimacy was a tired look
The neighbour's cat looked hot
Killed the lonely nights
Killed the commitment outright
Got to know the lawyer through rapid bank withdrawals
Weekly child visit watched over by Brutus
Bar visits watched over by the world's condemned
Special occasion became a twice-yearly treat
Birthday and Christmas, a bit of hate thrown sideways.
Then the new man.
Felt good for her.
Maybe some pressure off.
Maybe missed that lobotomy bar lecture.
Years dragged the hate forward.
Time moved on.
One day I wrote her a letter expressing my anger.
She wrote back in triplicate.
I wrote back in double triplicate.
She sent a thesis on men and asses.
Suddenly without thinking, we had dialogue.
After a while, we moved on from the anger.
We became human again.
I actually liked writing her letters and receiving them.
We never got back together.
But the letters kept us close.
Sometimes there would be a kiss at the end.
The little bit of love I probably never deserved.
I would mention it to her in my next letter.
Even an a*s deserves a solitary kiss now and again.
The bar room lawyers would probably agree.

Reviews

[Mrudula Rani]

I was overwhelmed reading, The letters; the anatomy of a divorce! And hated the neighbors' cat, that shredded the last of the strands of relationship!

[Paul Bell]

All things work out in the end.

[Mrudula Rani]

I am very happy to know that!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

What an honest, personal and poignant journey this is! You bare the soul of marriage and divorce. You own the actions and the repercussions. Much courage and remorse articulated so eloquently. Humans being human, with all their egos, scars, mistakes. Have mercy on us, It’s the best we can do. Sometimes it turns out ok anyway. Bravo Paul!

[Paul Bell]

History must be littered with fools. Humans, what can we do with them.

[marilyn 1225]

wow very powerfully written pathos of a divorce but also the good times of wine and roses before the tiredness that comes with having a baby then the lawyer problems and so on but now at the end you have a kiss at the end of a decent friendly letter
pathos yes but not all bitterness for the last part shows optimistic feelings
great work of writing clever terse like the 'triplicate and double triplicate reminds me of a book called the other girl in a way or the other woman forget which

[Paul Bell]

I think initially in any breakup. War starts immediately. Lots of little battles follow that. But sometimes peace breaks out.

[Marina]

Wow, like this one a lot. There is a very subtle humane touch to it, behind the cynical truth. Amazing job, a bit jealous that your flow is so good, overall happy to read your stuff lol

[Paul Bell]

I could just see you writing that letter.
Though there might be a few expletives thrown in.read moreI could just see you writing that letter.
Though there might be a few expletives thrown in.
Hows the book coming along.

[barleygirl]

I had dinner last evening with a friend who's been married SIX (yeah, count-'em: SIX!) times & of course I've never been married . . . so I found it amazing how one of his ex's would be jealous of another . . . after all, the process of divorce is so stinky, the aroma of attraction can never live in that atmosphere again, so why feel threatened by any ex? Anyhow, my conversation last evening is reflected in yours & Jacob's dueling poems, so well done, about a topic I've never been thru, but I'll take your words for it! *wink! wink!* (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Paul Bell]

Six times. There must come a point when you think to yourself. I'll maybe make number 7 a redhead. Why have you not been married, Margie. How dare you not pay out Lawyers like the rest of us. Sensible woman.lol

[barleygirl]

I wuz born on July 4th, which is independence day around these parts . . . the commitment-phobic bug bit me good *smile*

[Paul Bell]

See, if we hadn't given you independence, you could have been married six times too. You could maybe sue our government. lol

[barleygirl]

You are too hilarious to live!

[Paul Bell]

For Gods sake, don't send DIVYA after me. lol

[barleygirl]

One time, when I was reviewing a snooty young guy, I wrote: "I'm not going to pump rose water up your butt!" This brought down a lot of bad feelings, mocking & blocking, so I learned to be careful who I'm truly honest with (I can always be honest with you, which I appreciate!) I promise not to blow sunshine up your butt! *smile*

[Paul Bell]

Pump sunshine anywhere you want. It's bloody freezing here. Polar bears are booking up for Spain, it's that bad. lol

[barleygirl]

We've got our second rain of the winter season this morning, but the temps are so mild, one could run naked thru the mist *ahhhh!* Sorry to hear your toes are froze! (((HUGS)))

[Paul Bell]

See what the title of your next poem is now. lol

[Neville]

What an incredible tale you tell here. So sad but oh so often true I fear. An excellent depiction of the rapid decline of a once presumably meaningful relationship and then, that little twist toward the end......Delightful to be sure, Neville

[Paul Bell]

Always starts with good intentions.

[Neville]

Yes indeed, I'm just lucky I guess...

[DIVYA]

Even an a*s deserves a solitary kiss now and again

Touches the core.

[Paul Bell]

Even an a*s. Would you be that kind.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is great....love the last line...and how anger can turn back to love---
and how we miss something when it is gone...although it is often too late to save what was there---
boredom happens all too easily in marriages--the chase is fun...the capture is fun...but the captivity hits both sides often in a bad way and leads to dissension and goodbyes...
excellent write.
j.

keeping those lawyers drunk and happy.

[Paul Bell]

Coming back as a lawyer.

[BBP]

Always fun writes from you! You have a way of summing up a bad marriage in its entirety and always adding a nice little surprise.

Loved the letter idea.

[Paul Bell]

I'm just a good boy at heart. lol