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

[Pryde Foltz]

Clever and witty write. my friend. But I suggest you shop elsewhere.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Pryde. I think you are right.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

jack, you would know i would absolutely love the metaphor here...so well done...

with me the cards kept getting cut in half by the exes so i could never use them again.

related.--so we are even...each of us posted a new poem about the other one...we wrote each other...:)

twilight zone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jacob

[Jack...]

Do not attempt to adjust this site...we are in complete control. (or was the The Outer Limits?) Thanks so much Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that show had the weirdest music...

remember Science Fiction Theater? another sort of outer limits or "one step beyond" kind of show.

[Lydia Shutter]

You have described every detail of this scenario in such detail that I feel as though I was in that convenience store watching the clerk wipe his nose with his hand....YUCK! The build up of angst is wonderful. Now my question is, was this a metaphor? Were you trying to "purchase" that sweet young thing who went off with another or was your credit card denied? In either case, the writing is A-one! Lydi**

[Jack...]

The entire thing was a metaphor about wanting and desiring somenoe you can't have. Thanks so much Lydi. P.S. My credit is good. :)

[Lydia Shutter]

I kinda sorta thought it was....but never can be too sure! :)

[Blank]

This is almost like a horror story, debt has always scared me. The tension you build is phenomenal, keeps you on your toes to the very last word. Very smart, witty poem you have here, I loved it!

[Jack...]

Thank you so much V.C. I am pleased you enjoyed this. I appreciate your kind words today.

[Frieda P]

What a concept Jack, this is genius my friend! I loved it from the first word to the finale 'declined', the metaphors in this one are off the charts bat shyte crazy good, this is uniquely magnetic, even if that stupid strip reads otherwise. Outstanding....!

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Frieda. I am always thrilled when you visit my world.