Not Her Lips



He’s forgiven all of it
cheating, lies, frantic solitude,
but he can’t forgive her lips.

Love/hate, two edges
of a sharp knife hold him
to a smile, the plump sound
of his name canonized by a kiss.

He’s tasted honey for a season,
felt promises brush along his spine,
drank tears from her lips when
nothing made sense except bodies
erasing the world outside four walls.

Illusion, he’s part of an act,
a magician’s assistant dancing
on the needle points of her demands.

He will never be enough…..
The more she wants…the less he becomes…



©Susie Clevenger 2016




Comments

Sherry Blue Sky said…
Oh, how well you have described them both. A story so well told, Susie.
brudberg said…
Such a sad tale when all is said and done... I found the lips especially poignant, responsible both for lies and bliss...
Sanaa Rizvi said…
This is absolutely chilling.. verse which teases the brain.. an unforgettable poem..!

Lots of love,
Sanaa
Outlawyer said…
Oh dear-- you describe a relationship so well, thanks. K.
Magaly Guerrero said…
Some lips just tattoo themselves into our flesh and thought... making us happy, giving us so much, sucking the life out of us, doing their best to steal our souls.
Ellecee said…
Susie, this is so well done. You tell his story so well. I feel his loss. I chose the same photo, I hope you enjoy my take as much as I enjoyed yours,,
Debi Swim said…
"dancing on the needle points of her demands.
He will never be enough…..
The more she wants…the less he becomes"… wow, those are powerful words. You describe this relationship well.
Maude Lynn said…
Every line of this is just killer. Outstanding, Susie!
Gemma Wiseman said…
Powerful contrast in that last line. A sensual dance where one must die dancing. Stunning.
hedgewitch said…
Really more of a lament than an analysis, yet it lays out the potency of the fragments of love that haunt us so well--the end, where we are consumed by what we want to consume, is perfect.
Bekkie Sanchez said…
Love the stanza,
"Love/hate, two edges
of a sharp knife hold him
to a smile, the plump sound
of his name canonized by a kiss."
A killer of a write Susie!
C.C. said…
Oh, this is stunning from start to finish.....but this: "the plump sound
of his name canonized by a kiss" is my favorite line.....and the ending, "the more she wants, the less he becomes" is so very insightful!!
Hannah said…
The contrast of love/hate...so real and so well expressed in this poem, Susie. Wonderful work!
rallentanda said…
A brilliant write !