True Story

I am in the process of organizing several poetry chapbooks, and while dusting off a file of old poems from my 2013 graduate poetry class, I found this ridiculous little gem! It's a "break up" poem with Iffy Magic . . . you know, the first novel I ever went on to self-publish!

True Story

I try to break it to you gently

Without ellipses

Or time to let the ink splatter.

I can’t be with you anymore

Please don’t linger or make a scene

Like a melodramatic Em dash queen.

Don’t think of me too harshly

Just because I promised you

A prime spot on the book shelf

Behind the glass panes 

Of the oak vanity cabinet.

Honey, get real!

After 3 years of revisions

A pile of rejection letters

Leaning like the Tower of Pisa,

Not even an agent can save

This “thing” between us.

Now, don’t you dare interrobang

I’m not saying what we had

Was nothing, but maybe

It was altogether too much.

You consumed me

Chapter, comma, and semicolon

I just can’t keep cutting and pasting

My soul to flesh your pages.

Did I ever tell you how

I almost scrawled your name

On my bank check once?

I forgot my own signature

True story.

But it’s mine, not yours,

And I’ve got to write it

With somebody else now.

Evening Primrose Goodwing—

Unfollow

Unfriend

Bye . . .

Delete.

*I'm really glad I didn't give up on Prim. Now to finish Regalia's adventures! #2020 goals