Keyhole (At Some Time in Many Lives)
Keyhole (At Some Time in Many Lives)
the blur eddies
around a single truth
like a broken tooth
the well of the cavity
in its vacuum roar yelling (silently)
that he doesn’t love you–
or, he loves you
but just not that much–
your tongue longs to touch
the sore place, to explore
endlessly
the rutted prongs, the darts
of the anti-Cupid
until the pain becomes
a habit–
you chew
around it, breath
in one-sided whistle, and yet
the tongue probes, sometimes
his, both avoiding and relishing
the quick
of naked nerve–
the pain is not your friend, no, not
your lover,
but at least a reliable
companion, one
who always shows up,
stays the night through,
eats breakfast with you–
*********************
Draft poem for Susie Clevenger’s prompt on Real Toads to write something inspired by the idea of a keyhole. I’m sorry if I’ve missed returning any comments– a busy few days, but will catch up.
The above is a picture I took at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York of a piece in their permanent collection; unfortunately, I do not know the name of original photographer (though I’m guessing from the age of the photograph that it may not be under copyright.) I will certainly take down upon request from copyright holder.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: epiphany tooth, he's just not that into you poem, http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com, keyhole poem, manicddaily, not quite love poem
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ManicDDaily 
January 29, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Amazing poem. I love the image you chose, too.
January 29, 2016 at 11:43 pm
I like it, K. Been there, done that. It was actually a relief when ‘she’ made the first move to leave. It was different from yours in that I don’t think she was capable of deep love. Her fourth marriage stuck, I was first.
My theory is that there is an age when being married is a necessary convenience, one like your last five lines.
..
January 30, 2016 at 2:18 am
How often we seek the pain… Trustworthiest of friends, love the in-Cupid… The reverse, in that loneliness in the night.
January 30, 2016 at 7:11 am
I had that photo for my avatar once–I’m sure it is in the public domain. AFA the poem, I believe I may have had that for my avatar too–a fine peek at the naked nerve we expose to the drill of love, trusting but not always properly mubed before the extraction.
January 30, 2016 at 7:12 am
Yeesh! NUMBED before the extraction, not whatever I wrote there.
January 30, 2016 at 7:21 am
Ha. My typing is so weird I may have written the word beginning with a p.
January 30, 2016 at 8:18 am
Depth of feeling and fantastic wordplay! Wonderful.
January 30, 2016 at 11:57 am
This poem is riddled with the truth of heart break, so well expressed in your metaphor. It took my breath away with the sharp turning of the blade.
January 30, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Kerry, thank you so much. k.
On Sat, Jan 30, 2016 at 11:57 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
>
January 30, 2016 at 4:45 pm
This is such a fantastic poem. You managed to capture a lot of the feelings and emotions that this kind of situation produces. Thanks. I really enjoyed it.
Greetings from London.
January 30, 2016 at 10:53 pm
“one
who always shows up,
stays the night through,”
Ha…. good, old reliable “pain”.
January 31, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Wow! There is so much to love about this one. Love…a broken tooth. It remains as a reminder of lost relationship, the memory a strange comfort. Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge!!
January 31, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Thank you, Susie.
February 2, 2016 at 1:44 am
oof. ~