L Milton Hankins Poet Free verse

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]

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

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

Caren Krutsinger February 7, 2022 at 11:17 AM Oh, wow! Oh my goodness! Oh WOW! Great pen! L Milton Hankins February 7, 2022 at 12:05 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 February 5, 2022 at 5:37 PM The 'I' in this poem couldn't be/have been you. Right? ~ Gershon L Milton Hankins February 5, 2022 at 6:29 PM Definitely a negative, gw. Read my responses to everyone.

Rico Leffanta February 5, 2022 at 11:14 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 February 5, 2022 at 11:31 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 February 4, 2022 at 7:11 PM that is REALLY good. So emotive and real sounding, Milt. L Milton Hankins February 4, 2022 at 7:58 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 February 4, 2022 at 2:22 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 February 4, 2022 at 3:03 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 February 4, 2022 at 2:07 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 February 4, 2022 at 3:04 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.