Declined

One sided love ...no credit

 

 

 

 

Declined

 

Laughing, only to hide the tears,

now gathering in the corners of my mouth,

drowning me…(I should be so lucky)

 

staring at a reflection in the protective glass,

not someone I recognize at this convenience store counter,

even if it is me

 

When facing a fool, as I often do,

I close my eyes as to not see the sorrowed face,

yet I know…I have been warned

 

“Don’t reach for what you can not have…

No hands in the cookie jar,

it’ll spoil your appetite”

 

But I don’t listen, I hear, but…I am hungry,

she can’t mean me? Not me,

not the dancing clown that brings smiles

 

Watch me juggle, my heart, my love, my soul,

spotlights transition my lenses

and the stage goes dark

 

The minimum wage clerk is not amused,

wiping his nose with his hand,

then extending it as if requesting payment

 

But I have not purchased, I have only looked,

watched her walk to another, thumbing her nose in my direction

as if hitch hiking on her face

 

Still I reach for an empty wallet

filled with past due receipts and plastic poison,

fattening the faux leather Fossil with I.D. holder

 

Another swipe of the card, slowly as directed,

magnetic strip inward…

 

declined

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Shaun Payton]

Ah Jack, I found this a bit riveting as to where you directing this piece, its more than a card:that is the heart. You can swipe a card and be declined, its more embarrassing than anything, but when the heart is declined, it can hurt, and ache. Money isnt every thing kind of message here as well. Bravo Jack.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Shaun. This one has been hidden for a while.

[Shaun Payton]

You are quite welcome. I must dig deeper into your poetry writes

[Brittany Zedalis]

This is very clever. An interesting metaphor indeed. Great job.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much Brittany

[s y e]

OMG! My card got decline the first time I used it.. The guy was like 'WTF, what you trying to do?' I was so embarrassed I told him I had no idea, it was a new card and he told me I was talking rubbish... Oh well. This made me laugh a little.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend. You don't want too many credit cards

[s y e]

You don't want to know how many cards I do have.... :/

[Jack...]

Well I might, I have a lot of "interest" in things like that. :)

[s y e]

Ha, funny.

[Cassie]

This one is funny and also sad. Card getting declined is an embarrassing moment for most of us.

[Jack...]

Yeah my friend, but the heart being declined can be devastating

[Cassie]

the heart being declined is not only devastating but it wrecks some ones heart so bad, I have been there and the memories of that pain always give me goosebumps....

[Baby Ricochet]

Hitch hiking on her face. Cool image

[Jack...]

I had a feeling you might like that.

[TL Boehm]

Still I reach for an empty wallet
filled with past due receipts and plastic poison,
fattening the faux leather Fossil with I.D. holder

there you go - morphing the ordinary into an extraordinary poetic message. To be bubbling over for someone only to be dismissed - i hate that feeling.

[Jack...]

Thanks Tammy...I appreciate your kind words today. I hate that feeling too.

[icelandicblue]

You can't always get what you want...just like Mick said
This is a great metaphor for what we desire and what it feels like when that wish is declined.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Anne. You can try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

[Emerald Seas]

Damn it, Jack - you hit the nail on the head with this one. I swear I think you're on my cycle or something. Feeling like this a lot today too... Of course, I let my mind wander around a bit and all it manages to do is get me all worked up over something I have no control over. Not the same, I guess, but my loss still feels like skin being ripped off at times. Should be over a silly friendship by now, right????

[Jack...]

Right!!! If were only that easy. Sorry this one struck the nerve that it did, but happy you stopped by. Thanks so much my friend.

[Dye]

What a fantastic metaphor. I think at one point or an other we have all desired that thing or person we can't have. The pain of rejection is brutal. I say, shop somewhere new!! lol

[Jack...]

Thank you Dye.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

This was so clever, Jack! I love the metaphor, and how it relates to the human condition and something that I think so many of us can relate to. Such great imagery here, and what a beautifully complete thought from start to finish. Beautiful in its tragedy... Well done.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Sarah