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I Am Ashamed

Her face slowly melted away In the dawn of new light I realized I had only used her To satisfy my lust She became a victim My selfishness killed something Inside her -- Her loveliness -- And I am ashamed of myself. written February 4, 2022 [inspired by a prompt in a poetry contest on another site]

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 2/7/2022 11:17:00 AM

Oh, wow! Oh my goodness! Oh WOW! Great pen!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/7/2022 12:05:00 PM

Thanks, Caren. It was written from a prompt for an All Poetry contest. You might have seen her...a girl whose face was half-erased on half-undrawn. This is purely fiction, however, because I've never behaved like that, nor have I had those kinds of regrets in my life. Must have been believable, though. See Gershon's comment.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 2/5/2022 5:37:00 PM

The 'I' in this poem couldn't be/have been you. Right? ~ Gershon

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/5/2022 6:29:00 PM

Definitely a negative, gw. Read my responses to everyone.

Rico Leffanta

Date: 2/5/2022 11:14:00 AM

For many years I regretted being nice to women just because I wanted to get my hands on their boobs - which does not make any sense at all - but your god created pheromones which attract saints and sinners to do God's work, i.e., to multiply and replenish the earth, so no reason for you to feel ashamed! Aloha!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/5/2022 11:31:00 AM

Thank you for your thoughts, Rico. But, I do feel there is every reason to feel ashamed when a man uses a woman for his own lustful greed and selfishness without regard for her feelings.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/4/2022 7:11:00 PM

that is REALLY good. So emotive and real sounding, Milt.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/4/2022 7:58:00 PM

Thank you, Andrea. I've never had an experience like that. I was writing to a picture prompt which showed the young lady's face half-drawn or half-erased.

David Kavanagh

Date: 2/4/2022 2:22:00 PM

Palpable guilt here Milton, but too late to repent, said like a true poet, excellent but alas a mournful piece, cheers David

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/4/2022 3:03:00 PM

Thanks, David. I'm so happy this is fiction and not a real-life experience. I imagine that guys who do this probably don't feel guilty about it...as I certainly would.

Bill Baker

Date: 2/4/2022 2:07:00 PM

Very sensitive and mindful poem, Milt. It takes a strong person to look beyond what they may have gotten out of an event or relationship and consider, the loss of another or the harm to another. Good reflective introspection. I like it! Bill

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/4/2022 3:04:00 PM

Thanks, Bill. I entered it in a prompted poetry contest on All Poetry. I'll see how well it flies. The prompt was a picture of a young woman whose face had been left unfinished by the artist...like it had been partially erased.