Portrait

Back with Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful  "Portrait" write again. Have a blessed weekend with your wonderful win...............

Im honored to see you were inspired! You have always portrayed through your poems etc that you are a deep feeler and thinker and one who understands various phases and stages of life. Pleasure reading you. Thank you for sharing Congratulations on your win Sending you light always my friend 💫

Dear Daniel, What a deeply poignant poetic take like always, youv written from your empathetic quill. Divorce sometimes is the best option, altho it can be painful and difficult if co parenting with a narcissist. Your storytelling is so very engaging and flows seamlessly! I love the fact that you chose this prompt to write for. And you definitely took it to a whole different level! The ending cuts deep! And its true once its shattered its hard to mend, and its better left that way ~ altho some may find it painful

could feel the pain without having the experience myself, wow, Daniel

Such beauty and depth found in this poem that leads us through the cycles of marriage. The turn at the end is a surprise, the shock that comes with loss.

the pathos of life stages captured through your soulful lens beleaguered my soul, and yet I found a sense of transformation from your sheer acceptance of pained reality...the highs and lows of an alliance leading to ' strangers behind painted glass...' a gem of artwords, daniel!

A wonderful portrait of life Daniel. Life is full of up and downs, but it’s also a fantastic merry-go- round… Beryl

You have portrayed the condition of many broken families wonderfully, Daniel😊

Sigh, this feels like something beyond mending.. very true indeed, some changes come with a brutal essence, when feeling are torn and can never be repaired.. when instead of love, strangeness fills the equation.. depicting the current scenarios in marriages.. and relationships.. so evocatively.. the way you've navigated into such sensitive emotions, dear Daniel, it just moved my soul. How it turned from basking with the sun or going through the storms together.. to facing each other, with a sense, unknown and distant. Life! That ending is just soul-hitting on so many levels! You took us on such a profound journey of vulnerability here ~ Loved reading, a fave for the way it has been crafted and the aching depth, absolutely! 🥹❤️‍🩹🌹💫✨

I am so touched by the emotional depth of this poem. The family started on a happy note passes through tough times in the form of fatal illnesses, indifference from the partner, noisy brawls, drinks to drown lethargy and boredom and finally to separation. The images you have used are excellent. "two strangers behind painted glass lost in a bell jar of belladonna two martini glasses, an untouched olive" Typical of a strained relationship and a marriage gone haywire. This stage of 'being together but staying away' is the most difficult part. When two hearts tied as one, but later living as two strangers under one roof is the toughest thing that can possibly happen.."no masking tape or super glue can ever repair a canvas torn in two"- how true! This is the dismal plight of marriages, these days. Earlier, broken marriages and divorces were so uncommon in our culture as people were willing to make adjustments and compromises. But the scenario has changed altogether. This journey into the heart of family life has been engrossing, but sadly disturbing.Excellent poem.

Brilliant writing. Just the right size. Just the right amount of perfect imagery. I like how no commas are used between the activities of the children. Shows how fast the raising of children flies by. Loved this for it's sincere way of utilizing the prompt to symbolize a marriage's sad demise. A fave ⭐

Daniel, your vividly descriptive, soul-baring poem takes the reader through smiles, tears, and the irreparable. Janice

I enjoyed reading. "Portrait" is a wonderful write. I really like this shorter write. Your quote, made me think of the movie "You Only Live Twice." (Great Movie.) Great Picture Here... So true when you say, a torn canvas becomes two paintings no masking tape or super glue can ever repair a canvas torn in two. What A Great Ending. Guess that is what they call life. "Good Luck" If for a contest. Have a lovely day writing away..............

Dear Daniel, your poem "Portrait" tells an interesting story of a life that goes from being whole to being split up. The main image of a torn canvas expertly shows how separation lasts forever. It moves me with its vivid imagery and emotional depth. Your writing skillfully weaves together all of life's big events and difficulties, from the happiness of marriage and family growth to the inevitable hardships of illness and separation. Each line represents a different stage of life by using strong images like hazy wedding photos and the scars that last a lifetime from hard times. You can't go back to the way things were before, and the poem does a beautiful job of showing how change is permanent. It makes the reader feel both nostalgic and sad. Good Luck

Daniel, your poems are thought-provoking. So much to take in. … the letter’s paper like granite, vows sun-washed away. My brother, was the first divorce, so heartbreaking…there was more heartbreak to come. Fave

I sense “Plath” in that bell jar. … two martini glasses, an untouched olive - the untouched olive makes me think of mom’s death; dad’s left with a lonely martini. I understand that “canvas” torn. I have pics of my daughter’s first wedding and also remember the fridge photos I scrubbed. I wrote this at that time: https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/joyful_jones_divorces_the_sea_819257

A portrait of real life, it isn't the glitter and shine of a Hollywood happy family's story, we encounter many storms in our voyage of life but come out some times a bit battered and bruised but we pick up the pieces and keep going. Was listening to Glen Hansard's cover of Passin Through yesterday and it made me realise that is what we're doing, just Passin Through. Well written Daniel, good luck in the contest. Tom

Daniel, such are the glories and horror stories of family. You never tell... but you excel at showing, sometimes very subtly what your line are exposing to be the truth. Loved the stanza of gin in a glass that smelled of pine... a temporary fix for more than boredom. As for the belladonna... that nightshade is lethal... best kept in that jar. I have a couple of torn canvases ~ they remain torn in half but there are some good memories that remain if I look at them from the right angle. Excellent writing.

Though I dont know you personally and never will what you wrote brought tears to my eyes - loved these parts of your lovely poem: * through spelling tests piano recitals Saturday games * then job losses metastasis scares hospital gowns loneliness values smudged * boredom drowned in Tanqueray the glass smelled of pine * a torn canvas split along jagged lines * reimagining life with unfamiliar faces a torn canvas becomes two paintings no masking tape or super glue can ever repair a canvas torn in two Thank you so much - :)🙏

Life issues out some hard blows for some people and life in general has its problems. Some things that happen in life, I tell people if there is abuse of any kind from a mate or if they are using drugs of any kind, it is quite alright to walk away until they get their life back together if they won't do that then move on. I enjoyed reading this one. Thank you for sharing it with us. Way to go. Sara K. 👏 for good✍️

This is engaging and quite brilliant Daniel. It has elements that make it stand out and a great contender! Inky will love this! Best wishes!