Shackles Of The Past

once burnt, twice shy.

              Shackles of the past
Love came to your door,
Garbed in her finest ,asking you to let her in,
You who had been visited before,
Looked at her with suspicious eyes,
And slammed the door in her face,
Congratulating yourself on your narrow escape.

 

Memories of another time,
When youth and the scent of her had you blind,
When you, braver than any knight ,
Welcomed her with  guileless eyes,
Her brilliant robes they swirled and dazzled,
And you  in your ignorance heeded her every command.

 

Happiness clouded your view,
Making you a slave to her every whim,
And you being a simple man basked in her majesty,
Blinded by your emotion,
Unaware that she had grown tired of you,
Restless to court another.

 

Was it your imagination or had her shimmer faded,
Or had realization opened your  eyes,
To the treachery that was her occupation,
This was her legacy,
The breaking of your spirit,
The scar where she tore out your heart.

 

Did she dare think that if she wore a different guise,
Smiled a sweeter smile,beguiled with obvious kindness,
Swore that she was different,
Proved that she was,
That you would be taken in again?
Broken like a toy cast away for  a newer model?

 

You held your hurt close to your heart,
Cherishing it like the sweetest lover,
Shackled to the past with chains of memory,
Content in your bitterness to let no one in,
To remain alone because you were hurt once,
And it defined you and you have really and truly lost.

Reviews

[Daniel Sala]

Marvellous. I love the way you really get to the heart of different people and situations without histrionics but with so much feeling. "And it defined you and you have really and truly lost." When the feet that trampled have long since moved on some lie there forever stuck under the now weightless footprints. Marvellous to read and enjoy.

[Vidya Bacchus]

thank you for your wonderful review.It is true some people can't seem to let themselves get over the pain of the past.

[Lyn Anderson]

I really enjoyed this poem. Well thought out, executed, and great usage of punctuation and style to emphasize your points.

[Vidya Bacchus]

Thank you so much your words mean a lot:)

[Arcus]

This feels to me, as if Beauty and the Beast were to be crossed with Wuthering Heights. Very powerful, and wonderful imagery. I love it. :)

[Vidya Bacchus]

Thank you so much :)

[Arcus]

Thank you, for crossing Disney and Emily Brontë. XD

[Vidya Bacchus]

Haahaha if I have done that I am truly a magician .Thank you your words are deeply appreciated:)

[Arcus]

What would a crossing of Disney and Brontë look like? Disnë? Brontney? I need to stop. Hahaha XD

[Vidya Bacchus]

You crack me up haha....

[Arcus]

I have problems. Hahaha. I'm legitimately trying to figure this out. XD

[Vidya Bacchus]

Are you serious hahaha!!!!!!!!!.

[anxia]

Very well worded, composed . True, there are people who find it hard to give another chance to something which left them in despair and misery and betrayal. Good work.

[Vidya Bacchus]

Thank you for your wonderful words:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

once we learn from the pain, the blinders are off...reality sets in...we see people for what they really are...we see through the masks...when we are young, we don't because we love with reckless abandon...and spirit...

"sometimes i wish i didn't know what i didn't know then"--(bob seeger)

[Vidya Bacchus]

Thank you so much for your very wise review.This is true when we are younger we wish we were older and when we become adults we yearn for the days when we had less responsibilities
:)

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

This is a brilliant poem about the effects betrayal can wreak on an individual, how trust issues subsequently develop and how everybody loses in the end if one is unable to defeat their internal suffering and scars

[Vidya Bacchus]

thank you for your great review and your words are exactly true:)

[Judy]

I love this piece immensely - I like the consistency of the six line stanzas - there is a curiosity of to whom you are addressing this piece to, and I like that - the imagery is powerful and intense - - your word choice is equally is powerful - The last stanza really got to me, shaking every hair on my arms - the words - 'shackled....' and then the final two lines of the stanza - left me shivering.

[Vidya Bacchus]

Thank you judy for taking time to read my work and give me such a lovely review:)

[BlahBlahBlah]

Many of us guide our future and let it be controlled by the limitations and whims of the past. A truly splendid write. You use words so intricately! Just like a wordsmith.

[Vidya Bacchus]

ohhh thank you so much, your words mean a lot to me.

[Emily Donovan]

Wonderful poem and really captures the emotion with vivid description! I loved it.

[Vidya Bacchus]

thank you emily

[sonnie ibadah]

the undeniable fear of losing ourselves to our deepest longings...the fear of being vulnerable once more, that's what keeps us going but it can also keep us drowning...
i like ur poem, its deep.

[Vidya Bacchus]

thank you very much

[MOON]

Poignant write, when the past won't let you be.

[Vidya Bacchus]

Thank you for reviewing my work.Sometimes the wounds of the past never truly heal