Notes About The Poem

Date written: 06/26/2020

Blows from An Axe



One-liner 
of doom...

"I'm leaving you"

Mercy! 

The poor fellow 
must've died 
a thousand deaths
right then...
 
"Whack! Whack! Whack!" 
goes an axe
straight through 
his confused heart. 
Ouch!
 A devastating impact.

Numb to the bone
as he stands, 
directly facing her, 
in arrested astonishment;
listening... 
as she narrates
the end 
of everything.
Too numb 
to utter so much as 
a word.

He stands there 
as if
frozen in time, 
growing...
increasingly deaf 
with disbelief; 
too stunned 
to plead...
                 "Baby, please, don't do this!"
Or cry out 
an anguished "Now, wait a minute!"

On her breath,
the fetid stench of death;
d   e   a   t   h 
of gargantuan dreams
dreamt together.
Their panorama 
of bright tomorrows
suddenly look 
blacker than charcoal.

He listens 
as she's speaking
but doesn't comprehend
the words 
forking into him
like flashes of lightning.
Hopelessly lost in
"How did it come to this?"

A sucker-punch 
that landed
with speed so blinding 
he couldn't see it!
Unbearable pain
that writes itself
across his crimson face
His defeated spirit, 
a bark of a tree 
withstanding blows 
from an axe.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Mishra Avatar
July 7, 2020 at 1:26 PM
Such a deep muse on the pain of heartbreak Edward! Metaphors of separation, angst and betrayal. Especially loved the vanilla-scented tomorrows and death of mammoth-sized dreams. This is amazing poetry. Glad it got a top win my friend. Keep writing and inspiring :)
Ibeh Avatar
July 7, 2020 at 3:23 PM
Your glowing feedback and encouragement brought a smile to my face this evening, Aditi:-) Thank you so much, my dear friend! Most appreciated.
Johnson-Saunders Avatar
July 7, 2020 at 1:03 PM
You have expressed this devastating heartbreak so well, Edward, with amazing metaphors. Congrats on the win! Blessings, Rhonda xx
Ibeh Avatar
July 7, 2020 at 3:25 PM
Thank you very much, Rhonda:-) I treasure your kind comments and support!
Watt Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 7:54 PM
Edward, a great poetic sucker punch. I hope this was not autobiographical, but your words have such an authenticity to them. Glad to see you take a "W" with this one. Congrats ~ John
Watt Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 11:14 PM
Glad to hear that, Edward.
Ibeh Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 9:02 PM
I appreciate the lovely feedback and congrats, John:-) No, this poem isn't autobiographical.
Kauffman Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 3:09 PM
Powerful, visceral words, Edward. You have put us right into the experience and the emotions. Congratulations on your top placement! Blessings my friend.
Ibeh Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 5:19 PM
Thank you so much for the wonderful comments and visit, Sam:-) Most obliged.
Hamilton Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 1:31 PM
This is a great write Edward, still is a head scratcher this got an N/A...well now a deserved win!
Ibeh Avatar
July 6, 2020 at 2:15 PM
Thank you so much for placing it, John:-) Most obliged.
Hamilton Avatar
June 29, 2020 at 4:35 PM
This is a tour de force write Edward, one of your best, I gotta fave this one. Hey did you know Greg's gone, he left a goodbye blog, I'm sure he would appreciate a comment!
Ibeh Avatar
June 29, 2020 at 5:29 PM
Many thanks for the FAV, John:) I appreciate it. I've already commented on Greg's "Thank you, Soupers" blog, and I'm really relieved he's not leaving for good!
Adams Avatar
June 26, 2020 at 10:03 PM
powerful words convey the message wonderfully... great write! hugs
Ibeh Avatar
June 27, 2020 at 12:15 AM
Thank you very much, Sandra:-)
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