Notes About The Poem

Quote by Matthew Henry: What we count the ills of life are often blessings in disguise. 

2nd in This or That, Vol. 31 (Sponsor: Edward Ibeh)

Judged: April 7th, 2025

8th in 2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 11 (Sponsor: Mark Toney)

Judged: August 29th, 2025

Felix Culpa

We quarreled to bitter, burning degrees 
(you)loving me 
as a tender trespasser 
     a chew toy 
     boy 
demanding compliance 
forced feedings 
down
to sock selection 
(your)conspicuous usage of chlorine 
blistering eyes 
a woman my mother may have idolized 
(your)disciplined hemlines 
entirely circumspect 
	subtracting the abusements 
	how (your)words struck, in the rage of an enemy fire 
	and less, the undisturbed lust after hog's feet
I was heading for America 
	a better sow to plow 
        with spangly blue eyes
        and ruddy virtue brimming inside her countenance
out of the despicable cold,
The harpy's fury 
	(you)poked at my shortness
	magnified my retardations
I was a crouching slug in (your)supercilious shadows
Understanding I couldn't swim
as all the world knows   
any banal fact 
     for example, water is wet 
and a million times (your)augur's ball
pronounced death by sea 
     little legs shall not be inclined to desert the scalding Egyptian sands
was it (your)psychosis or mine ... doubts dressed as destiny?
I missed the exodus of the unsinkable ship.
The Titanic horn tolled whilst she distanced,
the mocking tintinnabulation 
of elegiac bells.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025



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Date: 9/6/2025 10:51:00 AM
Dear Trina, congratulations for your success in Mark's contest with your exceptional poem full of evocative and emotive imageries. Your poetic pen is as potent as it is golden. I was especially struck by "(you)loving me as a tender trespasser/a chew toy/boy/ demanding compliance" - sets the controlling tone. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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Date: 8/29/2025 7:12:00 PM
Trina, your poem powerfully depicts the emotional trauma of being trapped in a damaging relationship. It’s devastating and brilliant. Congratulations on your top 10 win on Mile 11 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 12 has already started.
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Date: 4/7/2025 7:32:00 AM
Wonderful write, congratulations
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Layne Avatar
Trina Layne
Date: 4/7/2025 9:00:00 AM
Appreciated. Blessings from Barbados!
Date: 4/7/2025 4:29:00 AM
Trina, this is a masterfully crafted piece. I love it. Wonderful format as well! Heartiest congratulations on your win in my contest!
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Layne Avatar
Trina Layne
Date: 4/7/2025 8:59:00 AM
Thanks Edward :)
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