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Open Poetry #46
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JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

0 posted 2010-11-17 10:47 AM


Author's Note: I take liberties with the haibun in that I use senryu instead of haiku because I prefer it over the haiku.


I hate the silence
In my ear and in my life
Silence weep for me

It has been two weeks since I stormed out of her house in a snit fit. The first few days were spent at the nearby watering hole drowning my rage in boilermakers and lies.

If I call her now
What in the world can I say
After I said that

Made such a fool of myself they told me to find another watering hole to kill myself in. And so I did for a solid week. Three days ago I had a vision that she was waiting for me to call.

I picked up the phone
Let it ring and ring and ring
She knew who it was

Her phone's ID would have told her it was me calling. Yes, she knew. I walked to the apartment complex where she lives and hid in the shadows. I watched.

When she left for work
I stayed hid in shadows
Until she got off

When she came home from work there were two women from her office with her. I recognized them but they didn't see me in the shadows. They were laughing and giggling like teenagers. She is not a teenager.

How dare she have fun
Why doesn’t she cry like me
Beginning to hate

I didn't have to hide in the shadows because it was almost midnight when she came back. The other women were not with her. A man was.

They stopped and they hugged
How could she do that to me
It's starting to rain

No. That isn't rain. It is tears flooding my eyes, streaming down my face. When she walked into the building with him my heart broke. I remained there, waiting for him to leave. It is the next morning and past time for her to go to work. She is still up there doing things with him.

I have no more tears
I'm in another gin mill
What do I do now

I sat in that bar from opening til closing for ten straight days. I ran out of money. I started pawning things. Soon I had nothing to pawn. I have an old German Luger, with rounds from World War II. An uncle brought it back.

With Luger in hand
Again I stand in shadows
For the two lovebirds

It is late afternoon when he strolls out of the building and sits on the steps smoking a foot-long nasty cigar. I wait for her. Need both of them together, don't I? She is at work I assume, and yes, I assume correctly. Here she comes. He rises to meet her with a shallow embrace.

Luger to my head
I step out of the shadows
I call out her name

She turns and sees me and a smile crosses her face and she speaks. "Where have you been, I've tried to call you. This is my brother. He's staying awhile until he can find a place."

My finger is pressed
I can't stop it fast enough
I hear "I love you"

In the surreal moments where life and death are one I hear her crying out my name. She is there beside me, cradling my head, saying over and over "Why, oh my god why? Didn't you know I loved you?"

I am not alive
But I watch her every day
Keeping her from harm


. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!
© Copyright 2010 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
Eusta B. Mae
Senior Member
since 2010-05-03
Posts 903

1 posted 2010-11-17 10:56 AM


Now you went and did it, gimme a tissue. That ending just did me in. Great write (sniff, sniff)
JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
2 posted 2010-11-17 10:59 AM


Aww, sorry about that, ebm. Well, almost sorry. We seek emotions in our work and are thankful when we receive it.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631
West Coast
3 posted 2010-11-17 12:43 PM


if I ever decide to end it all I will use a bow and arrows and stand in a circle of my enemies shooting arrows into the air until god directs one down on me..by the democratric samuari

enjoyed your spill here JP..

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
4 posted 2010-11-17 12:46 PM


That would be called death of a thousand arrows, would it not, DS? Appreciate your contribution today.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

Amaryllis
Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306
Mi now
5 posted 2010-11-17 04:02 PM


Wow I did not see that one coming... great pace and voice here, keeps you riveted to the end!

Amaryllis

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
6 posted 2010-11-17 04:11 PM


You made my day, Amaryllis, thank you very much.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

s1nfully_1nn0c3nt
Senior Member
since 2003-10-26
Posts 1105
Watertown, NY
7 posted 2010-11-17 08:04 PM


Our own assumptions are probably our worst enemy. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

-Trina.

"A heart that can't feel its broken- can't heal."

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
8 posted 2010-11-17 08:09 PM


Isn't that the truth, Trina. By the way, I love that name, I imagine it will show up in my next novel. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

[This message has been edited by JerryPat (11-17-2010 08:43 PM).]

martiniat8
Senior Member
since 2003-06-21
Posts 897
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
9 posted 2010-11-17 09:46 PM


really really interesting...
and an AMAZING format!

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
10 posted 2010-11-17 10:17 PM


Thank you, martiniat8. I like it, it is fun to play with.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

Prasad Nataraj
Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149
Bangalore,India
11 posted 2010-11-18 07:27 AM


Fine tale here, Jerry. Mistrust as always caused disaster in many lives, this write portraits its perfectly.

"Hardwork pays in the long run"

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
12 posted 2010-11-18 07:34 AM


Absolutely, Prasad. Mistrust. Hum. That sounds like a poem title to me. Thank you for being here in my corner of the world.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

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