Can you not smell that? She asked
-
Without a reply, she let out a sigh
It's the smell of yet another lie
Designed with the intent to cover
You do it with such ease and fervor
*
Can you not feel that? she asked
-
The weight of the world on me
Pressure pushing me to my knees
When for me, you refuse to show up
Ignore my cries that sound without let-up
*
Can you not see that? she asked
-
The drying mascara dripping down my cheek
My sunken shoulders, the visible signs I'm weak
When I really need you to be there, you're not
But, when my legs are open, you take what I've got
*
Can you not hear that? she asked
-
The sound of my pain, more audible each day
The cries I call out when you don't hear what I say
Instead, you interject, interrupt, and try to fix
Deny, lie, and try to cure the wound with sour licks
*
Can you not taste that? she asked
-
The once sweet-turned-bitter taste
Sour flavours with which my kisses are laced
There was once love and regard, but that's all gone
Replaced with loneliness and neglect, feeling put-upon
*
Thanks for reading!
This was quite a tough one to write. It needed to be published, though, I feel.
Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment or clicking the heart. Thank you again.
You can also take a look at the rest of my work here.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
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More stories from Paul Stewart and writers in Poets and other communities.
The steps to losing a child
Step One: Lose a child. Not what anyone wants to happen and nothing you can do to change it, but you can go through steps to becoming happy again. You can go through steps to loving again. You can go through steps to become a new you because after losing a child you will never be the same person you once were.
By Tabitha Hinkley6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (9)
Yep.
This is my favorite thing you’ve written, at least from what I’ve read. Yes, it needed to be published! I hope you feel better having gotten it out.
Oh, this was so heartfelt, raw, and honest. ❤️ I felt every word. It has a beauty to it as well - I'm in love with your structuring here, how each stanza is introduced with a question. Well done and hugs to you, friend! ❤️
This was a really beautiful and heartbreaking piece! I love the way yo incorporated our senses into it! I can tell this was emotionally taxing on you Paul, with how heavy this felt! I hope there is a weight life off your shoulders now!
Resentments running both directions, one voiced, the other buried & silent. Is it the fear that if I give voice to my irritations it might cause irreparable harm & what little we have left would be lost? Or is it that I'm simply too tired & no longer feel sufficient desire to do the work & reach out to heal the wounds inflicted upon both of us?
Tough one to read know how true it is too often, great job buddy 😊
This felt visceral and so raw, like an open wound. What a vulnerable piece to share. Really excellent writing :)
Wow. This is fabulous. Well done, buddy.
Powerful piece! Great job!