Open sore

By Parson Thru

Tue, 19 Jun 2012
  • 2578 reads
10 comments
 

I can’t make you happy.
Can’t return the childhood that you lost.

I can’t be the father that you dreamt of
through all the tear-stained nights
and beatings.

I can’t make you secure.
Can’t wipe the slate clean
or turn the clock back.

I don’t know what I’m meant to be.
Don’t know what you imagined
when you came that night to find me.

Perhaps it wasn’t me you sought at all,
just an end to all the madness.

I don’t know where it goes
from here. Maybe nowhere.
I don’t know what to feel.

So I switch off and abandon you again.
Maybe there's no way back.
It's all been said.

We live our lives apart
and try to keep the past
from poisoning the future.

No apology can atone
or heal this open sore.

Certificate U
Poem
Parson Thru II
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Linda Wigzell Cress on
The man's anguish and bewilderment came through clearly. And an interesting format. Linda

Linda

Submitted by Ibahas1 on
Interesting point of view here. I don't see works too often from the point of view of a repentant abuser. We like to demonize them, but we're all human in the end and there's some good in most people

- Ian Bahas

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Much food for thought, here, PT. As has been said and 'interesting' poem, showing some of the many facets of humanity. Tina

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on
I ought to point out here for the benefit of Ibahas1 and before a head of steam builds that I am not an abuser, repentant or otherwise. My "crime" or, more accurately, my regret was not being there for my kids. If abandonment is abuse, fair enough, but I think you're taking the definition to a place where it isn't generally applied.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Just to add, PT, the narrator's stance in this poem was clear, to me at least, which became more obvious in stanza four:- "I don’t know what I’m meant to be. Don’t know what you imagined when you came that night to find me." We humans do weave tangled webs, sometimes, and things aren't always as they would seem. Tina;-)

 

Submitted by seashore on
The first line drew me in, so I read on and yes, I liked the enigmatic stance in this poem.

Submitted by Parson Thru on
Hi Tina. Tangled webs indeed. Thanks for your comment here. Much appreciated. I do tend to lean towards ambiguity in my writing - other times my writing is unintentionally ambiguous! Poetry more than other genres, perhaps, is about what the words mean to the reader. There could be myriad readings in this one. The subject matter is highly sensitive/personal and I probably stuck my neck out by sharing this. My kids and I live with the sensitivity every day. That's all, I think, for their sake.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Parson Thru on
Thank you seashore.

Parson Thru

Submitted by shoe on
This is so painful, no you can't change the past, only try to leave it there, and keep moving forward.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on
Thanks shoe. We try.

Parson Thru