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She
has an oil tanker sized chip on her shoulder
and
it's become the only thing I see.
But
still I play nice,
though
my loyalty is waning.
It's
not so much giving up on her
as
it is giving up on it: loyalty,
probably
my best and worst trait
when
it comes to those I love.
But,
it's time,
because
oil tankers are no beauty queens
while
ugliness spills like the Exxon Valdez,
and
because I am bound for fairer seas.
©
2015 Jennifer Wagner
I do agree that loyalty can be both a good and a bad trait. Sometimes one does have to know when to move on.
ReplyDeletei hear you... it's a tough decision at times... there's def. a time to try and talk and understand but there's also an enough point
ReplyDeleteWell said. I can definitely relate to this.
ReplyDeleteI can relate too, Jennifer. Through he image of a chip being the size of 'an oil tanker' you certainly made your point and made me smile.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to move on when love and loyalty are there. But you said most wisely about when it is time to move on.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, solemn piece.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we just gotta move on...
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
Loyalty can be a good or bad thing ~ I specially like the firm resolution in the end: because I am bound for fairer seas.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you at OLN ~
loyalty can cause you to hold onto people who aren't good for you... I def relate
ReplyDeleteToo much of anything is a bad thing, & that includes loyalty. If the relationship isn't healthy, it's time to move on to the "fairer seas" you deserve. Nice write, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteI so related to this piece, Jennifer. I have occasionally found myself at the mercy of a persistent egocentric that has landed in my life and they are difficult people to navigate around. They really can bring a day down with their attitude: everyone and everything has an effect on them (virtually always a negative effect) because they are only capable of seeing themselves at the center of everything. I've found that it often progresses with age - Eeech - which does leave one grappling with the issue of: when is it time to confront them (which almost inevitably results in the end of a long term relationship). Trying to sincerely reach out to them and alert them to the toxicity their temperament is taking on, is pretty much hopeless. They just can't seem to get over themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful...!! I loved these lines:
ReplyDelete"It's not so much giving up on her
as it is giving up on it: loyalty,
probably my best and worst trait
when it comes to those I love."
A person truly relies on loyalty when it comes to relationships... what you see is what you get! :)
Loved your poem!
Much love,
Sanaa
I love the sound and the letting go! Brilliant!
ReplyDeletewhile ugliness spills like the Exxon Valdez... such a perfect metaphor!
ReplyDeleteOh WOWZA, Jennifer! This is fabulous--and I've been on both sides.... I really love the oil tanker/Valdez as metaphor; and the point that it is a giving up on loyalty, not necessarily the person.
ReplyDeleteOooh...I can relate to this...it is so hard to give up on a friendship when loyalty is one of your strongest traits because it feels like you are giving away a piece of your own identity and giving up on them and/or on the friendship feels like losing a part of yourself. Beautifully written....love the metaphor.
ReplyDeleterelationships can be like the seas.... calm one moment and rough the next
ReplyDeleteSome relationships are tough. And trying to fit an Exxon Valdez into a relationship is tough.
ReplyDeleteSometimes things just need to end, maybe not so much end, but have that understanding of enough is enough. Loved the fairer seas ending - perfect!
ReplyDeletethat is one big chip...there really is only so long one can play nice and entrust loyalty to such a barrier. really nicely written.
ReplyDeleteI have one in my family, too. sometimes, you just have to sail a different sea ~
ReplyDeleteoh, i can so relate to this, i'm in a similar quandary myself. but fairer seas, yes, sometimes that's the only way to survive.
ReplyDelete