Where do we go now – Part 2
The cards have been all over the table for two weeks now.
We’ve certainly felt their presence as we’ve carefully navigated each other
and have picked up a few, shuffled them, here and there.
The kids have knocked them onto the floor, mixed them up. A few might be under the couch now.
But the box is lost; there’s no longer a neat way to pack them all away
something must be done with them.
I approached it as I do everything – by writing.
In our younger years
I used to write you letters to explain how I was feeling
rather than take the risk of talking
Now I have said it all
I write to clarify, confirm, document
To stop you from recoiling into denial
To cover my ass
To propel us
forward.
Where? Damned if I know
some space between married and divorced
until another path appears
but we can’t just leave this stuff laying all over the place.
That’s what we always tell the kids.
And we both know
I’m the one
who always picks it up.
16 thoughts on "Where do we go now – Part 2"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Yes to it all. Well said. Great metaphor.
Thank you. Writing it is such a helpful tool for processing.
Boom! Terrific poem. You had me from the first line, wondering if the cards on the table were literal or a metaphor. Both, of course. Bravo.
Thank you so much for the feedback.
A poem with punch! How wonderfully you set the scene and the emotion. “but we can’t just leave this stuff laying all over the place.” – yes! I like that you mention letter writing. No one does that anymore. It’s all email and text. Well done!
Thank you!
Speaks volumes:
“ some space between married and divorced
until another path appears”
Thank you.
I agree with Kevin on that first line — I instantly wondered if these were playing cards or tarot cards.
Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking poem.
hmmmmm… could really really be both, couldn’t it?
Thanks for your comments.
Your use of the cards as metaphor is so deft—it captures the chaos, the weight of decisions left unmade, and the repetitive work of caretaking. “Some space between married and divorced / until another path appears” is such an honest, liminal place to land. The poem’s voice is both tired and clear-eyed; I really admire how you show the costs of always being the one to “pick it up.”
Thank you — I’m so glad it hit as I meant for it to. I really appreciate your thoughtful read.
Why write? Such a good answer:
I write to clarify, confirm, document
To stop you from recoiling into denial
To cover my ass
To propel us
forward.
Thank you!
I agree with everyone here–and Gaby’s comment articulates what I appreciate about how you use form and language to narrow your rhetoric in to a fine point. Artfully done!
Thanks so much for the feedback!