Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » A Sad Tale of Woe

A Sad Tale of Woe

Long ago and far away a princess fair With bright blue eyes and golden hair Lived in a magnificent castle so grand When a gallant prince asked her hand, And swore his everlasting adoring love An oath of fealty he swore with a dove And placed on her finger a band of gold ‘Twas never a more beautiful story told, Then one day in a moment of weakness He plunged headlong in sad obliqueness Forgetting the solemn vows he’d made And with another he in pleasure laid. Never again was his marriage the same It seemed, at times, like a boring game The princess knew something was amiss Something missing from the prince’s kiss, But she never knew about his shame Nor could he tell her he was to blame And so, they lived their lives in disarray Because of one brief adulterous foray. The moral is that one failing one time Can destroy a marriage once so sublime. Written May 5, 2022

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

Bill Baker

Date: 5/7/2022 1:44:00 PM

A great job of storytelling Milt. I agree that one failing can destroy a marriage, as can one sin, but thank God for the possibility of forgiveness and chance of healing. If one failing can cause eternal death, that there would never be a reason for a God or marriage counselors. To be trite, "what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger."(IMHO) Bill

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/7/2022 1:46:00 PM

A good response, Bill. I would certainly agree with you as to the possibility of forgiveness and chance of healing. In this case, however, no confession was forth-coming and the wound festered and ached.

Marco Chies

Date: 5/7/2022 6:16:00 AM

I've always liked poems with a story serving as the backbone supporting the narrative. You handled the subject with mastery and lyricism! I open the Poetry Soup page almost daily and I never fail to read all the poems you produce. Some serve as inspiration but all serve me for learning!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/7/2022 7:35:00 AM

Aw, thank you so very much, Marco, for your kind support for my scribblings. I always appreciate your thoughts.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/6/2022 1:25:00 PM

Just one will do it! "He plunged headlong in sad obliqueness Forgetting the solemn vows he’d made And with another he in pleasure laid. Never again was his marriage the same" Sadly!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/6/2022 5:30:00 PM

Simple story...sadly, so true!

Tom Cunningham

Date: 5/6/2022 12:14:00 AM

Once that trust has gone it's often downhill from there. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/6/2022 5:36:00 AM

I couldn't have said it any better. Tom, you are right.

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 5/5/2022 8:51:00 PM

A wonderful narrative and so true… Belle

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/6/2022 5:37:00 AM

Thank you, Belle. Yes, sadly, it is true.

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 5/5/2022 3:13:00 PM

Hello destroy a marriage. I agree. Enjoy your evening my friend.

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 5/6/2022 10:46:00 AM

Hello Milton, A husband is wrong to cheat on his wife. yet this happens. yes audltery is wrong between a married couples. It can dissolved a marriage when one partner does it. Enjoy your day my friend.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/5/2022 7:13:00 PM

Unfortunately, it happens far more than we realize, and sometimes the marriage is dissolved without one party ever knowing the real problem.

Vickey Rhymer

Date: 5/5/2022 2:47:00 PM

A marriage is an enjoined field of energy entered and hopefully supported by both parties.When another person enters that field the ripples produced are easily discernable as you brought out in the palatable way you chose.Thanks.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/5/2022 7:13:00 PM

You are so welcome, Vickey. I tried to make the truth as palatable and as less painful as possible.