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These Shards of Bitterness

These shards of bitterness, they sting
a shielded moon in hiding
for I have nothing left to bring
but for this fear abiding
when it’s the fear deciding

hold it tightly in my grasp
this brittleness of pain’s embrace
refuse to let love’s grip unclasp
as with cold blood I darkly trace
faint memories I can’t erase.

 Last touch of yesterday’s warm tongue
its shivered tinge of waiting lust
sad folly of a heart so young
harsh coldness of a tarnished trust
beneath the gray, a moonless crust.


©3/5/2022

Quintain (English) Poetry Contest
Sponsor – Emile Pinet

Copyright © John Lawless | Year Posted 2022

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Christuraj Alex Date: 3/17/2022 9:47:00 PM "shivered tinge of waiting lust sad folly of a heart so young" - Beautifully written. Congratulations! Login to Reply

Meghan Hutchings Date: 3/17/2022 11:00:00 AM Congratulations, John! Your poem is excellent and sadly beautiful. It is relatable as far as feeling the pain of lost love, and you've painted a brilliant picture of how that feels metaphorically. Way to go! Much love...Meghan Login to Reply

Jeff Kyser Date: 3/17/2022 9:38:00 AM John, that's really terrific. I like this a lot. Login to Reply

Emile Pinet Date: 3/17/2022 9:16:00 AM Congratulations John, Your poem came in "Third" in my contest, your poem was unique and earned you a podium position. Due to the number of entries and the quality of the poems submitted, this was a very difficult contest to judge, but your poem caught my eye, well done my friend, Emile. Login to Reply

Bill Baker Date: 3/10/2022 4:57:00 PM I agree with Gershon's comments below, also exquisitely written, John. This should place well in the contest. A poet friend in Texas, Bill Login to Reply

Gershon Wolf Date: 3/8/2022 4:22:00 PM Not many poems on this site can be read just for the pleasurable thrill of the sounds the words and the lines make -- AND then afford a deep dive into layers of meaning. But this masterwork accomplishes both. FAVE-time. Thanks for posting this. ~ Gershon Login to Reply

L Milton Hankins Date: 3/5/2022 4:30:00 PM Marvelous pen, John. Ah, I think we've all experienced the "coldness of a tarnished trust." This is good writing, my friend. Best of luck in Emile's contest. Login to Reply