Declined

Declined 


Laughing, only to hide the tears,
now gathering in the corners of my mouth,
drowning me…(I should be so lucky)

staring at a reflection in the protective glass,
not someone I recognize at this convenience store counter,
even if it is me

When facing a fool, as I often do,
I close my eyes as to not see the sorrowed face,
yet I know…I have been warned

“Don’t reach for what you cannot have…
No hands in the cookie jar,
it’ll spoil your appetite”

But I don’t listen, I hear, but…I am hungry,
she can’t mean me? Not me,
not the dancing clown that brings smiles

Watch me juggle, my heart, my love, my soul, 
spotlights transition my lenses
and the stage goes dark 

The minimum wage clerk is not amused,
wiping his nose with his hand,
then extending it as if requesting payment

But I have not purchased, I have only looked,
watched her walk to another, thumbing her nose in my direction 
as if hitch hiking on her face

Still I reach for an empty wallet
filled with past due receipts and plastic poison,
fattening the faux leather Fossil with I.D. holder

Another swipe of the card, slowly as directed,
magnetic strip inward…

declined…what else is new

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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

Date: 11/5/2018 6:32:00 PM
How life has declined us all in one way or another. Another great write, which I enjoyed immensely . Keep writing and I will keep reading. Best Wishes, Jess
Login to Reply
Green Avatar
Chris Green
Date: 11/6/2018 7:36:00 AM
Thank you again Jess. You are right, I believe most of us have experienced something like this in our lives. Though, some more than others. :) I am happy you liked this one.
Date: 11/3/2018 6:18:00 AM
Hahaha. Such is life. Seen this many times.
Login to Reply
Green Avatar
Chris Green
Date: 11/5/2018 10:43:00 AM
That makes two of us. :)
Date: 11/1/2018 5:42:00 PM
Your storyteller is showing Chris...and I like it!
Login to Reply
Green Avatar
Chris Green
Date: 11/2/2018 9:44:00 AM
Oh, let me fix that right away. :) Thanks so much my friend.
Date: 11/1/2018 4:43:00 PM
very sad but, as i've come to expect from you, chris, wonderfully written. i love the title and the whole idea of something being declined (which can be much more than a credit card...)
Login to Reply
Green Avatar
Chris Green
Date: 11/1/2018 5:04:00 PM
Thank you so very much Ilene for your nice comment
Date: 11/1/2018 3:44:00 PM
Excellent, Chris! Your poem brings to mind a verse from Macbeth: "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more." Your "dancing clown" seeks to amuse and, like his credit card, he is declined. His "transaction" ends in failure. I think this is one of your very best, Chris. Hugs, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Green Avatar
Chris Green
Date: 11/1/2018 3:48:00 PM
Thank you so very much Carolyn. I wasn't sure how this would be taken here, as it is not my usual flowery love poetry. I am thrilled to find that you liked it that much. Thank you again my friend.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad