Janice Canerdy Poet Quatrain

Notes About The Poem

Sponsor	Anoucheka Gangabissoon
Contest Name	Broken but bold enough to bounce back entered August 11, 2025;  placed 3rd ************************

Why Didn't I See It Coming

        
My long-time love dumped me on Christmas Day
decades ago. He coldly said we were
too different. His verbal sucker-punch
was devastating. All became a blur.

I crashed into a deep, dark, lonely pit
and cried for weeks. I feared I would go blind.
Who breaks up with someone he doesn’t hate	
on Christmas? How could he be that unkind?
	
I came to realize there had been signs,
but then, I saw just what I wished to see.
The saying “young and foolish” comes to mind,
but just the “foolish” half applied to me!

He'd started finding fault with how I LIVED:
“You spend too much time with your family.”
I let it slide, but it did seem unfair
due to his choice to spend less time with me!
		
Though haunted for a while by this hard loss,
I vowed I would rise up and find my way
out of that awful place where I was plunged
by one who stole my joy on Christmas Day.

“Time heals all wounds”~~that saying we’ve all heard.
Although it’s not always completely true,
time, fervent prayer, and family support
did heal that wound and brighten up my view.

Life’s way too short and Christmastime, too sweet
for me to spend my fleeting golden years
awash in painful, pointless memories.
For that time of my life, I’ve no more tears.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Bartholomew Williams November 28, 2025 at 11:33 AM Janice, congratulations on your placement in the poetry contest. Breaking up with someone on Christmas seems pretty mean (could it not wait until at least a few weeks or days later?), and such timing says to me that this is not the right person at all! Anyway, I wish you well, and again - kudos on your win! Very best, Bartholomew

Paula Goldsmith August 17, 2023 at 12:27 PM Congratulations on your win. A wonderful yet sad write/story. Christmas is the hardest time of the year. Hope it was just a write and not true. Have a great day............. Janice Canerdy August 25, 2023 at 7:03 PM Thanks so much, Paula. Janice

Valsa George February 3, 2023 at 8:43 PM You have unraveled the cracks that were forming in your relationship . But being foolish , you didn't have the foresight to see them forming. Only when the cracks widened to the level of never able to be bridged, you realized your folly. It happens. You have written a tale, real or fictitious, in a very convincing manner, dear Janice. All the Best! Janice Canerdy February 5, 2023 at 1:40 PM Thanks so much, Valsa! Janice