You Hide Beneath the Cross Your Sins

in the corner
of smoke filled pool hall
you sat peering
as you quaffed another beer

your umber eyes
locked in the beryl
of mine
lost temporarily
in the depths

you flashed a smile
that seemed to glow
beneath the dimmed lights

my eyes unlocked
in a downward shift
as i couldn't help but notice
the shimmer of gold
contouring your neck
its intricate design
delicately detailed
of the Christ child
as he hung
on splintered wood
when he died
in vain for our sins

my heart skipped
with the soft music
in the background

you approached
hands extended

I trusted in God,
then in you
a whirl around
as months flew by
like fists in rage

now memories flash back
in my wondering;

would you have worn
splintered wood instead
for salvation of your sins?


8/23/2019
One Hundred Thirty Six Words Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by John Lawless

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019



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Date: 9/14/2019 7:31:00 AM
Powerful ending! Congrats on a top win with this great poem.
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Date: 9/11/2019 8:26:00 AM
Not sure of whom you speak in the last stanza of Christ or your boyfriend? Congrats on your winning work.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 9/11/2019 9:05:00 AM
the abuser that hides behind a cross.... thank you for your visit today :) hugs
Date: 9/10/2019 5:22:00 PM
Glad to see you get a win for this piece. Congrats Rick.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 9/11/2019 9:06:00 AM
Thank you so much Rick :) hugs
Date: 9/10/2019 4:52:00 PM
wow, so profound, Sandy. I love your approach to this theme, which is sadly something all to prevalent in our world. Congrats. this is one of my favorites I have read.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 9/11/2019 9:07:00 AM
Thank you my friend....just what came to mind that day :) hugs
Date: 9/9/2019 8:58:00 PM
See the beauty of this was right on! Congratulations on a well deserved win!;)
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Sandra Adams
Date: 9/9/2019 9:23:00 PM
Thank you. I had to scale it back a little to make the word count but was happy with the way it turned out:) hugs
Date: 9/9/2019 5:40:00 PM
The charlatans of chance haunt and hunt the unwary...Nice write Sandra, the short, direct line breaks accentuated the staccato of the pace....thanks for entering the contest
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Sandra Adams
Date: 9/9/2019 6:16:00 PM
Thank you for the placement and for hosting this contest John :) hugs
Date: 8/26/2019 1:56:00 AM
Deep, complex and profound all abound in this spellbinding tale. The ending was hard-hitting and perfect! Good luck in the contest and all else. Poetry hugs .... CayCay
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/26/2019 7:18:00 AM
thank you my sweet friend... :) hugs
Date: 8/25/2019 2:30:00 PM
Fine write Sandra, extremely well penned especially keeping to the exact number of words. Very impressive! Blessings,Gordon
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/26/2019 7:18:00 AM
Thank you Gordon...you don't realize how fast 136 words can fall... hugs :)
Date: 8/25/2019 7:57:00 AM
- An impressive poem, Sandra - Best wishes in the contest :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/25/2019 11:06:00 AM
Thank you Anne-Lise...it was a fun contest to write for... hugs :)
Date: 8/25/2019 6:52:00 AM
In 136 words you have perfected a poem that describes life perfectly, a perfect perfect poem, Sandra.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/25/2019 11:05:00 AM
Thank you so much Caren...when penning you don't realize how quickly 136 words fall... loved the challenge of a word limit...hugs :)
Date: 8/24/2019 6:48:00 PM
Your ideas are so unique Sandra. I always know I will be pleased with whatever I read coming from you. This is fantastic! coco
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/24/2019 7:16:00 PM
i often tie life experiences or emotions in my writes, this one was part fiction, we met at the ocean, beneath fireworks, boardwalk music playing with the fireworks, it's a friday night thing at my favorite beach...he wore a huge cross, talked about God and religion...he masked the real him...pity.... thank you for your kind comment... hugs :)
Date: 8/24/2019 6:50:00 AM
wow... you did so well with just 136 words..
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/24/2019 6:59:00 AM
Thank you my friend. I had to work from a thought etch the write and then scale back a bit to get it to sit at 136 :) hugs
Date: 8/24/2019 5:39:00 AM
You take us to an in depth account of a life riveted in Faith, I love it. perfect in every sense Sandra. xo
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/24/2019 7:01:00 AM
Thank you. I am not sure if people like this think it will be their salvation from sin or if they just want others to believe they are religious ... :) hugs
Date: 8/24/2019 4:10:00 AM
A diamond in the rough...a poetic star is born...I bow...^WW^
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/24/2019 7:01:00 AM
Thank you WW for you kind comment :) hugs
Date: 8/24/2019 12:50:00 AM
I like your take on the contest. Well done Sandra.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/24/2019 7:03:00 AM
Thank you Rick... I had to scale it back a bit to fall within the word count :) hugs
Date: 8/23/2019 5:49:00 PM
Fashion Statement Or True Conviction Its like the Plastic Bangles W.W.J.D Or Poppy Badge. Image or Projection
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Christopher Flaherty
Date: 8/27/2019 8:24:00 PM
So True
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/23/2019 8:10:00 PM
guess it's a fashion statement until they show their true colors where it then becomes their conviction :) thanks for the visit and comment!
Date: 8/23/2019 2:39:00 PM
Beer in a pool hall...maybe not the best place to find true love lol...we all make mistakes but hopefully we learn from them. I enjoyed the narration and the free verse mix and the twist in the end. I think John will like this one, as I do.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/23/2019 5:37:00 PM
Lol it’s partly fictional I don’t drink or shoot pool. Met the monster under fireworks by the ocean on the boardwalk... boasted to be very religious part of attempt to hide the real him. True colors always come out eventually no matter how nice they paint the picture! Thanks for making me laugh with your comment :) hugs
Date: 8/23/2019 2:27:00 PM
Wow. Can't find words, so, another wow, and my virtual vote for a win. ;), xomo
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/23/2019 5:38:00 PM
Thank you Maureen, partially fiction but it made the story better :) hugs
Date: 8/23/2019 2:00:00 PM
I like the way you narrated this, though I had that feeling about this guy... Gotta watch out for those who wear their religion on their sleeve--- or around their neck(s). G.L. in the contest! Best wishes, gw
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/23/2019 5:42:00 PM
Thanks Gershon all he talked about was God and answered prayers took me around religious friends and to church... he was related to one of my best friends husbands and though I met him in another state while vacationing he was from my area of pa... it didn’t take long for the truth to arise :) hugs
Date: 8/23/2019 11:13:00 AM
Well there goes my chances of winning. :) Loved this 136 word poetic story Sandra. There is a deep message here that finds it's way to the surface. Really nicely done. I really enjoyed the format of this, it began soft while building as I read leading to an ending that was wonderfully crafted. Best wishes in the contest.
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Sandra Adams
Date: 8/23/2019 11:22:00 AM
lol actually i thought your poem was wonderful...and thank you i had to cut words and condense once i had the whole poem laid out... thanks for reading and your wonderful comment :) hugs
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