Home » Poems » Andrea Dietrich » Frida's Heartbreak

Notes About The Poem

9/6/13
For the Women who Paint Contest Series: FRIDA KAHLO in Free verse contest
Sept. 5, 2021 for ''H'' Contest, New Or Old Poems Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France

Aug 1, 2025 entered in Mark Toney's '2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 1' Contest

Frida's Heartbreak

Five excruciating months I’ve spent
inside this corset made of steel.
It binds the soul beneath 
my broken column.

See me standing here
naked before this bleak and arid landscape,
fissured like the furrows 
of this barren yellow plain
on which a child to call my own
will never play.

See my flesh impaled by nails.
From head to toe
they travel 
down
my 
body.
See the largest nail.
It pricks that part of me
from whence my love flowed freely
for the one man I adored. . . 
See my chest, which houses
the heart that he has pierced
again     and      again     and     again.

See my tears, white against my sullen face.
Only you who know true heartbreak
can feel the anguish painted in my eyes.
My body I laid bare
to help you see inside me,
but how can someone paint
the sorrowed soul?

Five excruciating months I’ve spent
inside this corset made of steel.
It’s only an extension of
my entire life’s ordeal.
Though it’s meant to heal me,
it is but a constant cruel reminder
that heartbreak is my companion
Ever
         more.

griefpainfree verse

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Mark Massey

Date: 8/31/2025 4:21:00 PM

Congrats Andrea, it's a given that your stuff will always be at the forefront here in the Soup. I expect that you will do well in Mark's contest ...keep it up!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/31/2025 7:16:00 PM

I started out great but I am seriously lagging now. Oh well. That's life!

Ron VanHooser

Date: 8/7/2025 8:04:00 PM

Andrea, this is a potent work, I have read it several times and the feelings come through with amazing power and clarity. Extremely well done. Congratulations on the win, it is well deserved. Ron

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/7/2025 8:09:00 PM

Thanks so much. I don't know how I ever created this one since my free verse style is usually not strong. Maybe the movie of her life really inspired me

Subimal Sinha-Roy

Date: 8/5/2025 11:55:00 PM

A big congratulations for the first place podium finish.

CayCay Jennings

Date: 8/3/2025 2:55:00 PM

You did it, babe. I wholeheartedly congratulate you! Love ... CayCay

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/4/2025 2:11:00 AM

Thanks. I did not even know there was a line limit. I nearly had gone over it!!

Susan Ashley

Date: 8/3/2025 7:37:00 AM

Dear Andrea, congratulations for your golden trophy win in Mark's contest with this stunning poem capturing the angst, physical/emotional passion and suffering of an extraordinary woman and artist. Amazing and moving imagery! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/4/2025 2:12:00 AM

Thanks, Susan

Valsa George

Date: 8/3/2025 6:57:00 AM

This is an excellent poem, so deep and touching . Indeed worthy of the first placement. Congratulations on your trophy win... dear Andrea. Wish you the very best in the ensuing races.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/4/2025 2:13:00 AM

Thanks so much. I find these marathons so stressful. I am shocked to have gotten a trophy.

Unseeking Seeker

Date: 8/3/2025 3:10:00 AM

What a fabulous write on behalf of Frida, Andrea dear, well deserving of the trophy win.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/4/2025 2:13:00 AM

Thank you!

Suzette Richards

Date: 8/3/2025 12:04:00 AM

Well done by winning the first leg in Mark's marathon, Andrea. It is a rather passionate poem - one can't help but feel the emotions welling up in one's chest upon reading it.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/4/2025 2:13:00 AM

Thanks, Suzette

Mark Toney

Date: 8/2/2025 11:56:00 PM

Andrea, welcome back to the track! Congratulations on your first-place finish on Mile 1 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 2 has already started.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/4/2025 1:35:00 AM

Wow. I am shocked to get a first place. This is one of the poems I truly felt I had written in free verse style, so difficult for me. Maybe I was just really inspired by the movie of this woman's life. Thanks so much for the trophy

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 9/9/2021 5:53:00 AM

I knew this was Frida as I read of her corseted pain! You wrote a great one, sister! Congratulations!

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 9/9/2021 4:43:00 AM

What a clever talented verse from a great poetess... Thanks for sharing this dear Ria... so that I got to read this masterpiece of yours that you wrote long back... From the comments given below years ago, I found out this was written for a painting given... for a previous contest... So expressive of the pain and heartbreak a woman experienced... Congrats on your Top win sweet friend... Hugs... ~ Ani

Alexis Y.

Date: 9/8/2021 11:45:00 PM

WoW! Andrea, Your well-written poem expresses “heartbreak” in a profound way. Congratulations on your top win; it was well deserved:-) Alexis

Constance La France

Date: 9/8/2021 9:23:00 PM

Andrea, congratulations on your win in my "H" Contest, New or Old with your beautiful poem ~ love and serenity _Constance

Christuraj Alex

Date: 9/8/2021 8:23:00 PM

fissured like the furrows of this barren yellow plain on which a child to call my own will never play. - Poignant lines. Beautiful poem. Congratulations!

JCB Brul

Date: 9/8/2021 4:37:00 PM

Very emotive! You are great in capturing moments in time..A brilliant write!!

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 9/8/2021 3:34:00 PM

Congratulations, Andrea. A poignant piece of writing - expressing pain and heartbreak - touches heart. Wonderful images and structure, Dear Poet. To my faves. Love ~ Mala