His Half a Heart

When he blew into my life,
           I was a flower, just starting to bloom.
With high velocity, 
             he tried to uproot me from solid ground.
I gave him my heart
           but  all the while - I was thirsting, thirsting. . .
for even half the consideration 
              I displayed for him
     to be returned somehow to me.

But it seems my whirlwind romance
            was all inside my pretty little head,
for it certainly was not the reality of what we really had.
      Yet, OH! How very real it was to me.
Poetry flowed through me,
               and I learned this was my way
      of nourishing my soul, allowing me to cope.
With the outpouring of my emotions into poetry
      I could put my disappointments onto paper,
release my anguish into something more concrete!
Words became my anchor; for in the words of my poems
                 I ultimately found my clarity.

Through the outpouring of my soul, 
         I would sometimes excuse his thoughtlessness.
     The desire was in his eyes, but his actions belied it.
I would ask myself how he could not return to me
              that same-felt love he had to be seeing in my  eyes.
And for a time, 
                I took from him
       any ray of sun that he chanced to shine on me
                                                                   with his smile.
That is. . .until the day I saw him
               with his wife.
Later, I pressed him and he confessed it all.
How yes, he had a wife. He’d simply never told me.
All those times he passed near me
        like a warm breeze wafting into my day,
all those times he flirted so outrageously
yet not wanting to take me out        into the open. 
            It all made perfect sense now. 

I wilted 
          and yet,
                 I was thankful I had never let
him pluck me up, 
          as romantic as it might have been.
I learned in time
         that his half a heart was,
                      in fact, a half 
of nothing.

Written 1/11/2016 
For the "Any Poem Not For A Contest, Ever" Poetry Contest of Broken Wings
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Watt Avatar
July 2, 2016 at 4:22 PM
Andrea, poetry springs from both love and loss, and you have captured both with this achingly beautiful write. I love the ending: "his half a heart was, in fact, a half of nothing." Ah, the lessons we learn in the school of pain. Hugs ~ John
Kimathi Avatar
May 18, 2016 at 7:54 AM
Hi Andrea. Congrats for your well, deserved first placement with this awesome piece!! ;-)
Palli Avatar
May 17, 2016 at 1:36 PM
Congrats Andrea! Can feel the deception and the disgust of such actions. Well written.
Chansarkar Avatar
May 16, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Amazing write Andrea!
Haight Avatar
May 16, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Andrea, congratulations on your First Place win in the "Any Poem Not For A Contest, Ever" contest. Hugs, Sandra
Andresen Avatar
May 16, 2016 at 9:08 AM
- Congratulations on your wonderful poem, Andrea :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
May Avatar
May 15, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Congrats on a great win Andrea
Davey Avatar
May 15, 2016 at 5:30 PM
Wow touch the depths of our souls why don't you!! beautiful write Andrea and congrats on your win
Vaso Avatar
April 2, 2016 at 9:53 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed this poem! A7
Makama Avatar
January 19, 2016 at 8:33 AM
Beautiful and well expressed lines in their finest. A great and well deserved 7
Sankey- Lewis Avatar
January 14, 2016 at 6:21 AM
Excellent gem your pen etched on paper. The way you say what you say, is literature laced. I once was wooed by a married Professor of Comparative Lit. I was too immature to volunteer myself away from it. Poetry writing have saved my skin; when I knew less of my powers within.
Marcum Wong Avatar
January 13, 2016 at 7:46 PM
A really deep piece that I can identify with as something similar happened to me. It would have taken top honors for sure.
Laurie Avatar
January 12, 2016 at 6:27 PM
G'day Andrea ... crikey this is a great verse Andrea. Flows beaut and the storyline is terrific - thanks again - Lindsay
Artis Avatar
January 12, 2016 at 1:11 PM
I wish it made it to the contest, it would've definitely been a winner and it is in my book. This is a masterpiece!
Callus Avatar
January 12, 2016 at 11:59 AM
What a pity this failed to make the contest in time, Andrea!! In my eyes it would have been a sure winner:) // paul
Thirtyseven Avatar
January 12, 2016 at 7:47 AM
You have captured this learning experience well (whether it was yours or not). Great write, that makes for an interesting, thought provoking read.
Nunez Avatar
January 11, 2016 at 11:40 PM
It's great to be able to put down our thoughts, deal with it, and move on. You have done well with this, Andie. hugs!
Scars Avatar
January 11, 2016 at 9:27 PM
Very well stated Andrea! I'm bummed you weren't able to submit it on time, but regardless, it was still an amazing write, as always :) *smiles*
Vaso Avatar
January 11, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Wow, powerful and expressive, and well wise! :)
Vaso Avatar
January 14, 2016 at 7:59 PM
I am answering my own comment! I think you should spend 1 more extra hour at the office! :)
Allison Avatar
January 11, 2016 at 5:45 PM
there are many good guys out there and sadly some cheating rats Andrea - such a shame you missed the contest:-( hugs jan xx
Kendrick Avatar
January 11, 2016 at 5:40 PM
Got that one correct..Half of nothing..I don't know if based on fact or just imagination but there are men out there that will carry it out all the way sad to say for the wife and the new girlfriend..Thanks for dropping by..Sara
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