Monday, February 11, 2013

Fairy Tale, Ending



Brush my mind
with ticklings of innocence;

I’ve since passed them
sinking in the quicksand

of want;

disclosing destroyed
and heaving parts,

the remnants of ugliness
from connubial war.

Disgusted,
our most real selves

are painfully owning all of it, even
the gaps so richly fabled when it suited.

Cleverly cloaked
in our reckless game of moth-eaten promise;

the bearers of bad news
always held their tongue.  They all knew their fate,

when veracity
was so uncomely.

Solemn workers of the gallows have finally come
to set the masqueraders free.

It’s a ghastly job to examine the photo
pulled from the frame

when the lies were just so pretty.


Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Apparently I am indefinite article deficient.  I'm sorry if you read this post before I made the fix on the third to last line.  I'm going to blame it on the flu.  I'll be linking up at dVerse Poets Pub for OpenLinkNight tomorrow!

56 comments:

ND Mitchell said...

Wow. So much to ponder here. This feels like a painful experience for the speaker of the poem. Your words cause me to think deeply about this-it's a very thought-provoking piece of writing.

Lisa Williams said...

This is a truly remarkable poem, Jennifer, brought tears to my eyes, especially "when the lies were just so pretty."

Wendy Bourke said...

Yes, I have seen a lot of this in life. Promises and lies are often a pretty fairy tale masquerade - the facade that we are expected (or expect ourselves) to keep up. But living a lie, is failing oneself - and there is real heartache in staying on that path. An excellent capture.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The ending of one fairy tale is the beginning of another...

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

I loved this Jennifer--fabulous--everything about it

Claudia said...

heavy emotions in this..a ghastly job for sure..ugh...the reckless game of moth-eaten promise...inense images...

Brian Miller said...

wow this is like layer upon layer...the releasing in the end...moth eaten promises....and it seems at times in our darkest hours that is when new life comes....smiles...

ayala said...

Heavy emptions, intense and good write.

Anonymous said...

our most real selves
are painfully owning all of it,

powerfully spoken. I appreciate your voice.

anthonynorth said...

So deep and excellently penned.

Laurie Kolp said...

Amazing & with felt emotions.

colleen said...

A moth-eaten promise is perfect and I love the idea of looking at a picture pulled away from the frame.

Anonymous said...

I can sense the speaker's disappointment, pain and anger coming through in this well-penned poem. The closure is brilliant.

Wolfsrosebud said...

sometimes those promises do seem moth eaten... lovely interpretation of emotions

Scarlet said...

Lies are a sad ending to the beginnings of innocence. ~

Mary said...

Oh yikes, the lies...in a pretty frame! Excellent presentation here, Jennifer! A real life fairy tale, I fear.

Heather Sawaya said...

I'm perceiving some regret, sadness, loss, bitterness, and even a vague sense of detachment in this piece. There are too many quotable passages in this, so I will just say that, in its entirety, you led us down an extemely intense and visceral path in this poem. Such power in your voice, the words you choose, and how you arrange them. It's almost like the room goes quiet when you speak. I am, once again, blown away at your gifts, Jennifer. Excellent. :)

Daij said...

Very deep!

scotthastiepoet said...

This is very rich and interesting work, Jennifer - so I'm glad I visted your page and will be back again... Particularly enjoyed: "the photo pulled from the frame
when the lies were just so pretty." Excellent finish!
Reagrds

Scott www.scotthastie.com

mrs mediocrity said...

Oof, that is such a powerful ending.... Reality comes creeping in sometimes, when it is least welcome, doesn't it? Great job with this!

Alex Dissing said...

When I finished reading this all I could say was "woah." Those last few lines are stunning.

Anonymous said...

I totally love this. Some people prefer the lies in the frame don't they? Gorgeous work.

Unknown said...

Nicely done!

Ann LeFlore said...

Very powerful ending and wow the lies very nicely done

Heidi said...

It’s a ghastly job to examine the photo
pulled from the frame


when the lies were just so pretty.

Great ending to a strong poem.

Stan Ski said...

Flattery for the purpose of deception... do people do that...? ;)

RMP said...

it can be hard to let go of the fairytale—to see it as it truly was—no longer blonde by the lies..

the ending definitely struck a chord. beautifully done!

Fireblossom said...

Those last five lines are just scary good.

dragyonfly said...

Beautiful powerful and evocative. Not to mention familiar and visceral (a word someone else used) and is a most excellent description of this most excellent offering...thank you!!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for reading David. Appreciate it, as always!

Jennifer Wagner said...

So true Wendy...thank you!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Yes, it can be...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for saying so Audrey!

Jennifer Wagner said...

'ugh' is right...thanks for reading Claudia!

Jennifer Wagner said...

At times that is so true...smiles back...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much jane!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you for the compliment anthony, I appreciate it!

Jennifer Wagner said...

I appreciate that colleen, thank you.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Kind words Tony, thank you. And thank you for hosting the pub as well!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Sometimes it's as if they are...thank you!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Lies are destructive things indeed. Thanks Grace.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Mary!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Oh you humble me Heather...really I am quite touched by your words. You've made my day.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for visiting Alieux, and for following too.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I'm glad to hear you will be back Scott...a very nice compliment!

Jennifer Wagner said...

ooh reality is 'ouch' sometimes...thank you Kelly!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Alex.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Oh yes they do...thank you very much for your kind words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Ann.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks very much Heidi.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Never ;)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Shay.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for reading--and for your kind comment!

Margaret said...

That last line is a zinger! although, I did enjoy myself the whole way through.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you did Margaret, thanks!

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Having lived some of this (every married couple has) you've captured the connubial war, artfully and sympathetically.