James Inman Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Irony? The CAPTCHA for posting this poem was MRS.

4b2

Please, tell me, for you, it was not a total waste,
Thirty two years of our souls entwining.
Tell me there was warmth and joy you embraced.
Like the love of our lives , our precious two,
morphing four into one, without even trying.
I wish I had their strength but I don't think I do.

Tell me for a time, for at least a short moment
that your heart beat for me and your smile was unerring,
Tell me your words were a fervid investment
not hollow discourse just meant to appease me,
or placatory sentiments of habitual murmuring
expressed without meaning,          an embittered plea.

Tell me, please, through our contrived, inane reasons
you must have found cause, at least some simple thing 
that kept you next to me, for so many seasons,
for the hope of renewal as the time slipped away,
more than our passion and more than just clinging,
until the feelings faded from fact to cliche.

Tell me it's not true as we sit in this room, without malice or greed,
the judgement is final, dissolution of marriage,
"Best of luck to you, with your divorce," he decreed.
The words yet linger like the executioner's bell.
Fourth floor, section B, room 2, where we were kept hostage,
until we stepped through the door, as our past we expell.


11/26/2022

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Charmaine Chircop March 1, 2024 at 10:18 AM So many marriages are like that,sad but true..Some people go separate ways,others remain together and live separate lives..Many marriages..I can feel so much pain here,and any word is not enough to reach out for the ones suffering. Just one thing,even in the darkest of nights,there s always some light.keep posting. James Inman March 1, 2024 at 3:27 PM Thank you Charmaine.

Eileen Manassian January 2, 2024 at 7:08 AM The stanza before the last really got to me. I could make some glib comment about the play and choice of words, which are so intriguing and appropriate, but the pain behind the lines makes such a comment meaningless. Sorry for this experience that had left its mark on you. May you see better days and love again. Thank you for your comment on my poem. The situation in this part of the world is heartbreaking. We survive day after day. James Inman January 2, 2024 at 9:52 AM Hi Eileen, such a sad time for people there. Hope your enduring reasonably unscathed and have some occasional smiles. Wishing you the best.

Charlotte Puddifoot October 16, 2023 at 1:03 PM i've been through something similar, though mine was only seven years..so nice to see you commenting at my page, it's been a while since you've posted a poem James Inman October 16, 2023 at 2:27 PM Hi Charlotte, I feel sorrow for your experience, seven years is a long time. I'm afraid I have gone numb emotionally and as hard as I might, nothing seems to come to me. My days are sleep, eat and work, and when I can, I read a few poems. Yours touched me. I hope I didn't bore you with the sycamore dribble.

Jan Allison July 29, 2023 at 4:49 PM so sad when a relation ends especially after so many year. hope you are coping ok James. hugs jan xx James Inman July 29, 2023 at 7:12 PM Even after more than seven months, it seems so surreal. It's not as if we hate each other. At least not on my part and I don't think on hers either. We still go out to dinner every so often. We share holidays together with my two daughters, the younger of which still lives with me. It almost feels like it never happened except we don't live together anymore.

John Loving Iii June 29, 2023 at 6:45 PM A good argument for staying together. Not just for the kids But for that old person that will someday die and your mission will be through James Inman June 30, 2023 at 12:59 PM Hi John, I'm afraid that when it's over it's over, regardless of how long you're together and how old you are.

James Peranteau February 19, 2023 at 5:45 PM Don't feel tooo isolated dear poet...i went thru them thar doorz 4timez...oh yea, i who lovez the herz soooo dang much! much love, james James Inman February 20, 2023 at 6:48 AM My sorrow goes out to you James. Four times? You're a gluten for punishment. I couldn't do it. Once is already too much for me.

Laura Breidenthal December 6, 2022 at 12:37 PM Wow—this is such a heart-wrenching piece, James. It floored me. And the irony of the CAPTCHA—that is wild! I hope you are doing alright. This sounds like a very painful time to endure. Always, Laura James Inman December 6, 2022 at 3:12 PM Thank you for your visit and kind comment. James Inman December 6, 2022 at 3:11 PM Hi Laura, like the flow of a seemingly endless stream we enter into emotional relationships when the water runs cool, clear and deep and all we can feel is how easily we can flow past the many rocks and stones that stand ready to impede our progress until one day our emotions change and the tears from the clouds stop falling and the great boulders permanently dam up the flow of the stream and we are only left with pools of mud that choke us when we try to drink it and that leaves a bitter taste in our mouths and clouds our mind, allowing us to see only the darkest parts of our relationship.