Gregory Richard Barden Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Love's Last Wound

Friends?
Are we still friends?
Can we JUST be friends?!?
Oh such a horrid, charity-stained question!

What a keen and salient dagger it wields!
The pity that you wear like black lace finery,
Is as deadly and whetted a sword as any raised in battle ... 
The patronizing look in your eyes presses on its hilt

With the agonizing weight of feigned cordiality,
To pierce the tender flesh of my hopes,
Deep and quick and precise.
Why ... why this last dose of bitter passion??

To ease your careless conscience?
All you've done is make the blade more jagged,
The wound more brutal and raw.
Now here I lay ...

Exhausted in spirit and sinews,
By what I now realize was lovemaking for clemency's sake ...
One last, tender moment to minimize the blow.
Shards of moonlight through the louvers,

Lay like broken pieces of porcelain on furrowed bedclothes,
As my passions bleed out at your feet,
Draining my heart of the realities
Of what I thought we had ...

What might have been, beyond friendship.
My love for you collects in a puddle of one-sided regrets,
And now this dreadful question makes all a travesty,
A mocking, cruel, pitiful farce ...

No, my love, I can NEVER be just ... your friend.




~ 1st Place ~  in the "My Friend, My Love" Poetry Contest, Julie Leigh Rodeheaver, Judge & Sponsor.

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Tania Kitchin January 26, 2019 at 5:04 AM Greg, what a powerfully written emotional poem, I think we can all relate to that past failed relationship and the "just want to be friends" line. Congratulations on your top win in the contest! :)

Connie Marcum Wong January 25, 2019 at 8:51 PM Anyone who has experienced such ardor and loss will perfectly relate to your brilliant expression of why there could never be a friendship as the pain would be overwhelming. A deserving First Placement Greg. You know the heart well! Congratulations! : )

Derek Noble Ayi October 16, 2017 at 6:41 AM Great piece. You brought out the real feelings. Gregory Richard Barden October 16, 2017 at 12:40 PM Thank you, Derek - I greatly appreciate it! :-)

Andrea Dietrich October 14, 2017 at 6:12 PM Oh MY, you really have such a fine way of making a point. Very poetic way of taking something like this and really making us feel your frustration. I love this, Gregory. Soupmail for ya. Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 7:59 PM Very kind of you, Andrea, really pleased you liked this one - heartache is such a great muse - I KNEW there was a reason for all those failed relationships, lol. Blessings, Friend! :-) <3

Freddie Robinson Jr. October 14, 2017 at 6:43 AM Brilliant as always, Greg. Your introspective forays are such an enthralling journey into the center of your poetic soul. Incisive queries is your be-knighted blade thrust w/precise cerebral parries. A jewel of a poem. I love it, bruh. Master craft poetry. Supernova spiritual write, blinding in its insight. Love and more love always. Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 7:59 AM You are so very kind, Freddie, and I appreciate your thoughtful and articulate comments so very much ... they are as exquisite as your poetry, my friend, and I am blessed to be on the receiving end of such kindness, and proud to call you friend! Blessings, Brother - I am honored! :-)

John Michaels October 14, 2017 at 5:26 AM Powerful stuff, Greg. Some lines are meant to be crossed!! All the best, John. Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 5:51 AM Indeed, my friend - thank you! :-)

Moon Flower October 14, 2017 at 12:22 AM Wow! So much emotions I can sense here. A well-thought-out one, my friend. Good luck for the contest. Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 12:33 AM That's very kind of you, Moon Flower - I'm so pleased you liked my poem - blessings, friend! :-) <3

Joseph May October 13, 2017 at 7:19 PM Once you have crossed love's threshold..there's no turning back...Nicely done Gregory Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 12:32 AM Indeed, Joseph, well-said, my friend ... glad you enjoyed my poem! :-)

Eve Roper October 13, 2017 at 3:37 PM in relationships you can never be friends nicely done, Gregory ~`* Hugs Eve Roper Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 12:31 AM Thank you so very much, Eve - that's so sweet of you - I'm glad you enjoyed it! <3

Darren White October 13, 2017 at 1:33 AM That first stanza, that very first with that question..... Yes you're still my friend. This aside. This is so incredibly well written Greg, and the dark deep feelings are almost unbearable. Gregory Richard Barden October 14, 2017 at 12:29 AM Thanks so much, Darren, I greatly appreciate it, Buddy! Blessings, friend! :-)

Judith S October 11, 2017 at 1:51 PM Wow!!! This is a beautiful piece. Brought so much emotion and feeling to the surface for me. Just brilliant!!! Gregory Richard Barden October 12, 2017 at 12:10 PM Thank you very much, Judith, that's very kind of you - so glad you enjoyed my poem! :-) <3

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart October 11, 2017 at 10:50 AM Yes yes yes! Breathtaking write! Slain by your whetted sword xomo Gregory Richard Barden October 11, 2017 at 11:24 AM Thank you so much, Mo - I am very pleased you liked this one, my friend! Blessings! :-) <3