The Perfect Bath

Before her glassy eyes, crystal bubbles seem to strangely dance. Slipping down into the water as deeply as she can, she revels in the liquid warmth enwrapping her. Such contrast this is to the crispness of the air around her! Before running her bath, she felt compelled to turn off all the heat in the house. Now she reaches for her glass on the edge of the tub. Bringing it to her lips, she savors one last time the wine, her one small taste of "heaven" from the bottle now lying nearly empty where it spilled out to wet the floor’s cold tiles. Very relaxed, she sets the glass back down beside her. It topples over. The woman hears it shatter. . . yet she lies still. Intoxicated (as was her plan), she lays the sharp edge of a razor blade against her wrist. Making sure to clutch it well, she slices through veins but feels no pain. Then the other side. . . Red fluid threads stream among the fading fizz (all that now remains of the dancing bubbles). And as she drifts off into numbing unconsciousness, it dawns on her that her tub has somehow become unplugged! She is too lightheaded. . . too feeble now to move. The heated fragrant water slowly and steadily subsides. A sharp chill invades her body. With her final breaths, the woman thinks of how her one last plan - to be discovered immersed completely in water - has ended up just like every other messed up thing she ever did and how her plan, like the water of her "perfect" bath, has just gone down the damn proverbial drain. 7/7/13
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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12
Godwin Avatar
September 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
How dark you went to write this, and how well you did it. I felt you took the reader one way to emphasize with her then when her efforts failed to meet her expectations, the poem altered my feelings in ways I can't explain, definitely unexpected end. Love CayCay
Mohammed Avatar
July 26, 2013 at 6:03 AM
Its no wonder you won with this poem.Fabulous imagery!
A  Avatar
July 18, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Nice to see you on Debbie Guzzi, winning list...... Congratulations! Hugs* SKAT
Johnson Avatar
July 18, 2013 at 4:30 PM
What a heart wrenching write. Well deserved win Andrea, Big congrats! Truly moved the reader.
Guzzi Avatar
July 18, 2013 at 2:25 PM
So real Andie, just a heads up this could be flash fiction or with the addition of a few haiku, a haubun! Big Congrad's on your fine work taking the top spot! Light & Love
Guzzi Avatar
July 18, 2013 at 2:26 PM
killer ending too! ;)
Bauer Avatar
July 18, 2013 at 8:28 AM
bravo, andrea! this is a wonderful poem - so easy to picture every step of the way and so sad! congrats on a well-deserved top win!
Onclaud Avatar
July 17, 2013 at 3:20 PM
this is a powerhouse of a piece, andie.. big congrats on your win!..:) huggs
Kendrick Avatar
July 17, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Great winning work..Congrats on your great win..Sara
Undertaker Avatar
July 17, 2013 at 7:10 AM
congrats on your win. great write
May Avatar
July 17, 2013 at 6:48 AM
congrats on a great win Andrea
Nair Avatar
July 16, 2013 at 10:58 PM
Congrats, Andrea, nice work !!
Chircop Avatar
July 16, 2013 at 8:25 PM
Ow gee..this is so different.It gives me chills iy spine..A very.dark and sad poem.I love how creative you are here.You are able to write any type of poetry..Well done sweet lady.
Ryerson Avatar
July 16, 2013 at 7:26 PM
Ok I remember commenting on this earlier saying that I thought this was your best effort so far and I see that Deb apparently agrees...This really shows you are willing to go to the dark side, a place I don't remember seeing you go much before... I see the ending as almost humorous (the way you wrote it anyway) but I can hear her saying something like this to herself as her whole life begins to fades away...
Richards Avatar
July 16, 2013 at 5:40 PM
This is as chilling a scene as it gets......a perfect bath....written to perfection. I love the way you ended this.........down.....the.........drain.............. !! Kuddos!
Devnath  Avatar
July 16, 2013 at 5:19 PM
A great congrats on your superb win, my friend. Loved always, bl
Seal Avatar
July 13, 2013 at 6:54 PM
Yes, stunning write Andrea, strangely as I read this I had still pics flashing through my mind, good luck in the contest. Take care, Richard
Devnath  Avatar
July 13, 2013 at 8:54 AM
Beautiful poem penned nicely and enjoyed a lot. Good luck in the contest. Loved always, bl
Gildersleeve Avatar
July 10, 2013 at 7:00 PM
An excellent write Andrea, but oh my gosh, chills run up and down my spine with this too real image. Provokes an uneasiness within me as if I witnessed her suicide. I didn't see this coming, but, wow! Warm Smiles, Connie
May Avatar
July 10, 2013 at 4:08 PM
very nice write Andrea....best wishes
Horsman Avatar
July 10, 2013 at 5:16 AM
Wow wow and even more wows,
Horne Avatar
July 9, 2013 at 3:51 PM
wow, this is so good!! Just love this one, Andrea. A sure winner
Jones Avatar
July 8, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Andrea..these haunting too real poems unnerve me but I admire the talent it takes to write them...I may have to try one someday...this is really awesome..
Angel-Simon Avatar
July 8, 2013 at 1:19 AM
Andrea, the poem evokes fear of futility from a progressive plot of actions. Love. Angel
Culverhouse Avatar
July 7, 2013 at 11:12 PM
creepy work. I like it. sorry I haven't been around much. had to check on everyone.
Tacito Avatar
July 7, 2013 at 10:31 PM
A misleading paradise. Spectacular!
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