You Foolishly Once Thought You Had It Bad: a Collaboration

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When tons of doom filled nights fall on your head,
hot embers glow and fires burn unabated,
you recall her last breath and wish you were dead.
In a poem's sad lines you've been castrated.
From the heavens a voice thunders dire threats
about losses and breakfasts consumed without eggs.
Fumbling about, looking to hedge your bets,
you drink your cold coffee, down to burnt dregs.

On waking you find dawn's hard hammer fell
last night's burns are reminders of strife.
You stumble and look up from the pits of Hell,
recounting the reasons why you lost your wife.
Your clock chimes out vulgar curses at you
and your house bids you leave by peals at noon.
You think of the ancient, wicked dreams, too,
as night falls with its wretched lucent moon.

You dream of hungry tigers eating your boots.
Your house is perched atop two adjoining trees.
A hunter fires;   but it's not a tiger he shoots.
Your second wife cuts off your legs at the knees.
With life's blood flowing from your severed veins
your heart bemoans that you married once more.
By morning you were free from nightmare's pains
but horrid memories linger behind closed doors.

What vast burdens you bear in fear of sleep
and hollows in your mind fill quickly with dread.
When your clock strikes twelve, I hear you weep,
" Odious anguish!  I wish I were dead."
Shadows dance on your walls in candle light.
Dark images of her body pressed close to you,
waltzing in your arms on a moonlit night
but she vanishes when dawn's rays break through. 

Which sort of dream scars your mind with more grief?
The ones in which you're butchered;  burned by fire,
or when daylight steals her away like a furtive thief?
Will your penance release you from the leeching mire...
the terror you encounter each night as you lie abed?
Foolishly, you once thought love claimed your heart.
Therein lies the angst of what you most dread...
the vexing memories in dreams that tear you apart.

Co-Written with Robert Lindley based on the original 
verses he offered in the open challenge on his blog.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 1/21/2018 2:08:00 PM
I would say that this person had a nightmare in his dream.It must have been something he ate before going to bed. Have a nice day my friend.
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Date: 1/13/2018 2:44:00 PM
Dropping back with my congrats on your POTD Lin and Robert:-) hugs Jan xx
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/13/2018 5:01:00 PM
Thank you so very much, Jan. :-)
Date: 1/11/2018 7:07:00 PM
Oh, my ... this is stunning, and like it is my biography ... hit me like a cold shovel in the face. I've never read anything (by another writer) that was so it could have come straight from inside me. Wow. This is a new experience for me ... really amazing write unto itself, and very impactful to me personally. Wonderful collab, Lin & Robert. Wow.
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/13/2018 4:58:00 PM
I didn't channel you, I promise, Greg. That's some bio you've had. Thanks a bunch for the enlightening comments.
Date: 1/5/2018 6:49:00 AM
OK....SO I SLEEP WITH THE LIGHTS ONE....WHAT OF IT.....DAMN.....THIS ONE WILL KEEP A FEW "SOUPERS" AWAKE TONIGHT......
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/13/2018 4:57:00 PM
It is rather dark, I know, but I did make him aware of his problem. Lol. Thanks, John.
Date: 1/4/2018 7:34:00 PM
Spectacular penning! Congratulations on potd xomo x2!
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/5/2018 7:14:00 AM
Thank you very much, Mo.
Date: 1/3/2018 8:01:00 PM
Congrats, Lin and Robert on a vivid collaboration
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 11:56:00 PM
Thank you so much, from both of us, Kim.
Date: 1/3/2018 6:24:00 PM
Lovely Lin...Your collaboration was superb...Give my regards to Robert for his fabulous contribution...All the best to both of you
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 11:55:00 PM
I will indeed pass on your well wishes to Robert. He's not been feeling well lately. Thanks very much, Arturo.
Date: 1/3/2018 4:19:00 PM
I never like the dreams where night steals her away. A great poem and awesome collaboration between you two. Congratulations on POTD!
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 11:54:00 PM
Thanks, James. Robert's nightmare was the catalyst for this one.
Date: 1/3/2018 12:50:00 PM
Congratulations Lin & Robert! Great poem with some great lines...”Will your penance release you from the leeching mire”...excellent:-)
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 12:55:00 PM
Thanks so very much for liking this one and for pointing out something you specifically enjoyed, Donna.
Date: 1/3/2018 10:34:00 AM
A dark collaboration written with such talent from both of you. "Shadows dance on your walls in candle light. Dark images of her body pressed close to you, waltzing in your arms on a moonlit night but she vanishes when dawn's rays break through." Brilliant Lin! Congratulations to you both on having this poem honored with POTD! : )
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 12:44:00 PM
I always appreciate comments that are detailed as you did. Thanks so much, Connie...for Robert and myself.
Date: 1/3/2018 9:56:00 AM
So rich, so seamless. There are poets and there are poets; you two are Poets! Congratulations!
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 12:43:00 PM
Thank you, Sun, so very much for the most delightful comments.
Date: 1/3/2018 9:11:00 AM
Amazing collaboration, Lin and Robert, congratulations for POTD honors...
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 12:40:00 PM
Thank you, Charlie. Credit to Robert for beginning this dark tale.
Date: 1/3/2018 8:17:00 AM
A wonderful collaboration, Lin, you have done Robert's verses justice:) congratulations to both of you on POTD:)
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 8:22:00 AM
Thank you for your ever thoughtful comments, Jo.
Date: 1/3/2018 6:26:00 AM
The stuff nightmares are made off...Congrats to both of you on POTD
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 8:22:00 AM
I have Robert to thank for giving me nightmares...lol Thanks so much Joseph.
Date: 1/3/2018 5:26:00 AM
- Congratulations (p.o.t.d.) on this amazing collaboration poem Lin & Robert :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/3/2018 8:21:00 AM
Anne-Lise, thank you from both of us for the read and kind comments.
Date: 1/1/2018 7:10:00 PM
Amazing you two...love it and a fav
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/1/2018 7:49:00 PM
Thanks most sincerely, Tim.
Date: 1/1/2018 1:04:00 PM
Sorry to be late commenting my friend. This cold/flu has me a bit down. As always, you came shining forth with brilliant and image filing verses to end this collaboration on a top level version of the dream poem opening .. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WRITE WITH YOU MY FRIEND!!!
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/1/2018 7:49:00 PM
Thank you so very much, Robert. I was pleased that you liked my editing and final verses. Take care of yourself.
Date: 1/1/2018 12:35:00 PM
Hi Lin; WOW! what a great finish you tied in so well with the beginning. An amazing collaboration between you and Robert. Well done Lin well done.
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/1/2018 7:48:00 PM
Thank you, Edward. Your kind comments are very encouraging.
Date: 1/1/2018 5:43:00 AM
What a nightmare!!!! I was wanting to read happy and this one is darker than before!!! I'd hate dreams like this. Love the opening to the second stanza, another excellent collab with Robert:-) hugs jan xx
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Lin Lane
Date: 1/1/2018 5:58:00 AM
lol Yes. Robert gave this poor man horrendous nightmares of abstract notions, but I did my best to analyze his situation and I didn't charge him a psychoanalysis fee. ;-)
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