Marred Recollections

damaged and alone I am stained with
memories that never ease my existence.
soiled by dirty flashbacks, I’m never 
relieved when I remember all my befouled 
experiences.
contaminated and defaced, I can no
longer be subjected to such marred
recollections-
I don’t deserve such absolution as my
mind never required an outlook that
freed my bloodstained past. 

abandoned, I cry for unblemished images
to crowd my brain.
I thirst for musings that can alleviate my
blackened reminiscences. 
I recall my youth-
an improper childhood full of discolored
souvenirs. 
my autobiography should be written 
in terms of battling ten thousand
wars-
dividing my life into factions of pain
and unwarranted pleasures. 

my yesteryears have diminished into
unreasonable doubt-
I feel so ancient;
like a shriveled up messy essence at
just thirty-eight years old. 
I never knew how deprived I was of
lucidity until last night-
I pondered on the mirrored reflections
of my bygones.
all I saw was unfathomable filth
with no way to cleanse my soul.  
what shall I do about my conundrum?
who shall I turn to for comfort?
the answer lies in the depths of the
deepest seas;
in the heart of the greatest heart
that ever was to live…

                “I cry to thee who hears my plea,
                 an aria of tarnished reflections is me-
                 I hunger to be stronger,
                 can’t live with this pain any longer,
                 please free me from this lewd debris.”

so I move on. 
live on in my own world I created.
I am left faded and stoic---
longing for someone to unpollute
my jaded aforementioned past.


Tarnished Relfections
John Lawless
March 22, 2018
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Gauthier Avatar
April 4, 2018 at 11:51 PM
What a deep dark powerful poem. Congrats on your most deserving win, Laura.
S     Avatar
April 2, 2018 at 7:07 PM
Such an intensely sad and emotional write full of pain. "An improper childhood full of discolored souvenirs" Wow!! Such an amazing poem!! Congrats on your placement Luloo!!! ~Judy
Carber Avatar
April 2, 2018 at 9:09 AM
It takes great courage, Laura, and skill to write of such pain. It may not compensate, but if you had not suffered, if your soul had not been tempered, then you could not have reached into another's heart-- as you did mine and I'm sure others.
Gentry Avatar
April 1, 2018 at 4:21 PM
Congratulations on your win with this sad, emotional, raw but very human poem.
Lawless Avatar
April 1, 2018 at 10:47 AM
Well done Laura, a sad and painful melancholy that leads to stoicism. Thanks for entering the contest
Dietrich Avatar
March 22, 2018 at 6:58 PM
wow, very well written, Laura. It looks like you put a lot of thought and effort into this sad free verse. I bet John will really like it too.
Parker Avatar
March 22, 2018 at 11:18 AM
I can think of only one thing that can haunt with such torment...a sad poem dear poet...
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