Eileen Manassian Poet Free verse

The Hardening of a Heart

How long does it take
for a heart to harden?
for muscles to loose
that supple tone
to lose elasticity
to become...stone?

How long does it take?
I wonder
But I know
your heart has hardened
I never would believe it to be true
No, not you
Not...YOU
Your heart was my home
the soft walls my comfort
the rhythmic squeeze my treasure, my pleasure

But your heart has hardened 
Turned...to stone
But even a stone would hear my cry
a stone would shed a tear
a stone would soften
with the beating of my breast against it
with the deluge of my tears wetting it
with my sobs moving it
a stone would hear
and come to life
to quiet my inner strife
but not your heart
NO, Not YOU!
Your heart is stone
I wonder if it yet beats
and why do I write this poem?
Perhaps you will see
Perhaps you will read
Perhaps you will be softened
and bleed

I write because...
My heart yet beats
for you...

Eileen M Ghali

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Arthur Vaso November 16, 2014 at 10:23 PM I am stunned, this is just so wonderful! I am at a loss for words!

Kayod5 Kayode November 13, 2014 at 12:04 PM Where are you? Missing you...huggs. Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:12 PM I needed some time away, my dear. I've just posted a poem for one of the contests. Hope you are keeping well. Thanks for the concern. Hugs

Anne-Lise Andresen November 13, 2014 at 4:24 AM - Where are you ??? - Miss you !!!!! - oxox // Anne-Lise :) <3 <3 <3 Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:13 PM Hello, Sunshine! I needed some time away....I'm sorry if I worried you. I'm back...I think! ;) Thanks for the visit. Hugs

Mama Bear November 7, 2014 at 7:33 PM Nothing is as hurtful as loving someone who does not love you in return. You are better than him. You have a wonderful heart and deserve to have someone love you fully. Never,never settle for less than what you deserve. Love and hugs Edith Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:14 PM Mama Bear...wanted to thank you for being so supportive of me during this last time of difficulty. Your friendship means a great deal to me. Hugs

Gary Bateman November 1, 2014 at 4:57 PM Eileen, A most excellent write here. I will start becoming a regular reader her of your works. Looks like you've been very productive with your writing thus far!! The metaphor of the heart is quite important here. This is a sad write, but the message is quite compelling!! A "7" from me and this one's a FAV too!! Cheers and Best Wishes, Gary Gary Bateman November 16, 2014 at 5:06 PM Eileen, I hope all is going okay for you!! I think we're all quite glad and thrilled that you are back!! Best Always, Gary Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:16 PM Thanks for the visit, Gary. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I've been struggling with some issues. I think I'm better now, and hopefully can post poems now and again. All the best....

Maurice Yvonne October 29, 2014 at 2:08 PM Excellent poem, thank you for this fine read. Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:17 PM Thank you for being so sweet and supportive, Maurice. I'm back with a new poem for one of the contests. Hope I can post more in the near future. Hugs.

Timothy Hicks October 27, 2014 at 12:44 PM I thought there was something familiar about your comment on my poem, Our Limited Understanding. But now it all makes sense... you changed your name to Jade Celeste. Pretty! You wanted a change I suppose? Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:18 PM Yes, Timothy. I needed a change...Jade Celeste was good for a time. I love the word celestial and Jade has always been a favorite of mine. Thanks for your support. I think I'm out of the woods now...at least for a time being. Hugs

Charmaine Chircop October 25, 2014 at 7:38 PM Ow Eileen spill not tears for hearts made of stone..Not worth it!Time will pass..you will br strong enough to laugh at this experience which is. somehow not what you deserve..You are a queen ,a warrior,the best.Stay strong sis Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:20 PM Thank you for your care and concern. Hope all is well with you and your loved ones...I've just posted a poem. Don't know if I will be back for long, but it is a start. hugs

Andrea Dietrich October 25, 2014 at 2:11 PM Eileen, first of all, the metaphor of heart as a home and with soft walls. that was fantastic! this truly is one of my favorites of your poems. I FAVE it. Eileen Manassian November 16, 2014 at 1:19 PM Andrea...thank you for visiting me. I was in a bit of a slump for the past month. I don't know if I will be back full swing or not, but for right now...I have a poem up. Hugs

Paul Callus October 25, 2014 at 10:01 AM Where a loving heart beats, hope lives on. But do not make the mistake of waiting in vain...hugs // paul Paul Callus October 25, 2014 at 3:09 PM There might be questions you might want to ask, but on a closer look you'll realize that you already know most of the answers:) Eileen Manassian October 25, 2014 at 10:21 AM Paul....you are right. It is in vain. It is all in vain. Thank you for visiting me. Your Appassionata is unable and unwilling to write. Life is so complicated. I have many questions to ask of God. If one day....I see His face. Thank you for your visit.

Richard Lamoureux October 22, 2014 at 5:42 PM This is sad, perhaps it is still warm and fears being hurt. His heart may have a thin layer that only appears to be stone. Your writing always flows to the heart of the matter, it has a beat all it's own. Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:56 PM Richard, I missed you yesterday. I hope all is fine with you. Your insight has merit. We will never know some things. We only suffer for them. Thank you for coming to visit me.

Liam Mcdaid October 22, 2014 at 4:21 PM touching heartfelt really sad yet very beautifully penned piece eileen bless you Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:56 PM Thanks, my dear Liam. Always good to have you here at my page.

Jasmine Cruz October 22, 2014 at 2:49 PM great piece Eileen. In time you will have noticed that you are the better one, your heart is matured and knows what it can and cant handle. He will be the one with the hardened heart cause he wont have you. Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:57 PM You are so kind, Jasmine. I wish that what you say would come true. Time will tell. Thank you for visiting me, and welcome to the Soup. Hope you like it here.

Timothy Hicks October 22, 2014 at 12:56 PM "I wonder if it yet beats and why do I write this poem?"... well despite the fact that He's cold as a stone your heart is still gold ... otherwise you wouldn't write for him, no? I don't think in our lives that most people lose their heart, their being in one fell swoop... but slowly gets chinked away, bit by bit, so gradual that you don't even notice. I hope that will never be the case with you :) Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:54 PM Hi, Timothy! :) You are so sweet. I'm afraid my heart is in trouble. It may not be getting hard, but it is getting wise. Skepticism, I suppose, is a form or hardening. It is gradual. So good to have you pass by and read. Hugs

Eve Roper October 22, 2014 at 8:12 AM You don't want your heart to harden because that is what makes you special. He was probably not the right one for you, there out in the world is your soul mate wait for him and you will be surprise how wonderful that person will make you feel :) love and hugs eve Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:08 AM Very sweet of you to visit my page, Eve. Thank you for your kind thoughts. I appreciate your genuine concern. Hugs

Anne-Lise Andresen October 22, 2014 at 3:39 AM - A sad poem dear Eileen, your heart has been hurt - Who has hurt you .... hope it's not me - I wish you a sunny day, with all the best ! - oxox // Anne-Lise :) Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:09 AM Ah....my dear...it was NOT you. You are a ray of Sunshine....as always. Love and hugs.

Demetrios Trifiatis October 22, 2014 at 3:38 AM The heart is but the administrator of our feelings and can easily turn to stone or to butter pending what we feed it with. Yes, a heart of stone looses all senses and becomes not only deaf but blind as well. Your poem is both thunderous and dazzling but sometimes a soft kiss achieves much more than what thunder and lightning could accomplish. A seven from me dear., Eileen! Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:14 AM Yes....I do agree with you, my dear poet. I find that it takes repeated acts of negligence that deadens the heart. The first time the heart is negligent there is pain....but in time, it comes not to matter any more until....eventually it doesn't matter anymore. I am open to soft kisses that will allay my thunder and lighting. Thank you...filakia!

Justin Bordner October 22, 2014 at 2:40 AM Your sadness, fury, and desire to break the stone that blocks the path to love once shown will crumble from your ardent strike revealing a heart that calls your name and protects the purest flame...this poem is so sensitive, its visceral for me Eileen. The lanuage is so precise in emotion and need, an amazing write! J.A.B. Eileen Manassian October 22, 2014 at 9:17 AM A heart that calls my name and protects the flame is a heart to be treasured. Thank you, Justin, for always being so supportive of my writes, for encouraging me to be myself...You have no idea what that means to me.

Cherl Dunn October 21, 2014 at 8:58 PM A sad and emotional work but it is a very heart felt poem of loss, I hope in time your wounds of the heart broken will heal and you will love again my dear friend, cheri Eileen Manassian October 21, 2014 at 10:40 PM Dear CHerl, thank you so much for your support of late. It is very sweet of you. I'd love to read more of your work, but I'm a scardy cat and tend to stay away from spooky writes! ;) Yea...I'm just a silly girl. Tell me one heart that is unaffected by pain, and I will show you someone who is not of the human race. We all suffer at one point or another. Thank you for your sweet post. Bless you for it.

Tim Smith October 21, 2014 at 7:11 PM The heart is resilient...It will harden for one but soften for another..It will fight through the pain to seek the euphoria of love again and again...simply delightful...hugs Tim Eileen Manassian October 21, 2014 at 10:43 PM Thank you, Tim. Yes, the heart IS resilient, but with every heartbreak, it looses its ability to be spontaneous. I love having you visit me. Hope you have a pleasant night. I'm just having my morning coffee and will soon get ready to go to class. Today...we go through the work of Charlotte Bronte...Jane Eyre...one of my favorites. I'm excited. Hugs

Brenda Meier-Hans October 21, 2014 at 6:11 PM Oh Eileen, I could feel your pain as I read your touching words. I am mostly sad that your heart bleeds for a hard cold stone. I hope it can come back to life and see the beauty it is missing out on. Eileen Manassian October 21, 2014 at 10:44 PM :) You are sweet, Brenda. Thank you. Some events in life have obviously left an impact on me. It is true for most, I believe. Love brings pleasure and pain. It is part of life's game. It can drive insane. I have only myself to blame! ;) Hugs

David Brown October 21, 2014 at 5:08 PM Magnificent, your writing is so passionate even in pain, you are an inspiration my friend.... Eileen Manassian October 21, 2014 at 10:45 PM I'm so glad to make your acquaintance, David. I feel the same about your work. :)

Sebastian Aaron Baez October 21, 2014 at 4:47 PM I love your way and style of free verse. So captivating and powerful. A most marvelous write! :) Eileen Manassian October 21, 2014 at 10:46 PM Why, thank you Sebastian. Glad you found something here that you could enjoy. ;)

Jan Allison October 21, 2014 at 4:16 PM Oh Eileen so deep and so so sad :-( Hugs as ever Jan xxx Eileen Manassian October 21, 2014 at 4:18 PM Thanks, my dear...the tears are wetting my eyes as well. This is ripped out of my heart. The heart has many chambers...Thank God for that, or how would we survive. When one chamber closes down...we have the others to keep us going. Oh...but I'm becoming philosophical. Thanks for the visit.