Not as Rare as It Sounds

*Image by* John Everett Millais/Birmingham Museums Trust

The cursed day arrived
and the double rainbow 
made from God’s refracted tears
only made matters worse
because it meant the marriage
promised 
would follow,
and the plays that she’d rehearsed
in fond, familiar fields
with her beloved sister
were silly words, 
lines she’d learn to swallow.

For now, fingers doubled down 
with fright, she whispers,
“Oh, let it be a long goodbye,” 
her lap piled high 
with beloved childhood verse
soon to be passed down
as she must walk the path
from pasture to church, 
telling herself 
this transition is not 
as rare as it sounds.
But the words are 
illusions
meant to soothe 
the broken part of her.

This poem was penned for Visual Verse, 5/23.

14 responses to “Not as Rare as It Sounds”

Michele Lee

Very moving post. ✍🏻🎶💗

LikeLiked by 2 people

Reply
johnlmalone

it’s a wonderful opening; I can’t help thinking, K, that it is overloaded with explanation; I’ve read this four or five times : to me, it’s more effective if it ends after ‘beloved childhood verse’ —

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Thanks, John. The Visual Verse publication asks that you view and write in an hour, but I like your suggestions and think this may be one to revisit.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Simon

You can feel the pain of inevitability in this….

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  promises can be painful, I suppose, especially those you must make.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. Simon
    
    That’s the thing isn’t it… sometimes it tears up apart.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  2. K. Hartless
    
    I think I’m promising my littles things everyday, like I promise your safe. I promise I’ll wait. I promise there’s nothing under the bed. I hope the promises will be less as they get older…but maybe they’re only going to get harder.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  3. Simon
    
    I hope they don’t get too much harder… We can do our best right?
    
    LikeLike
Colleen M. Chesebro

This poem is full of great emotion. I enjoyed the story you wove. 🌈🌈 powerful magic here!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Colleen. I was inspired immediately. These writes are done in one hour or less, but who knows. I may double rainbow this one and revisit it. 💜
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. Colleen M. Chesebro
    
    I love it!!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
Bridgette

I imagine this is exactly how those young brides felt, leaving behind the childhood verses to enter the adult world before they were close to being ready.

LikeLiked by 2 people

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Bridgette. This painting spoke to me instantly and I was grateful to have the time to pen it. I appreciate your kind words.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Titus

How beautiful pics are really😍

LikeLike

Reply