Bouquet

15 Replies

Bouquet

All the love that you confess
I fear is rendered meaningless
by the kiss you choose to press
near the neckline of my dress.
Hidden by collar, more or less,
the flower you rendered like counting coup
last night, now blooms in black and blue.
It was the least that you could do
once you’d gone through all your brew
and needed a diversion new.

When you said you’d shower me with flowers,
I envisioned vases, bowers.
Not this expression of your power
that lowered me from ivory tower
and taught me how to cringe and cower.
Each floral offering rendered anew
confirms what I must one day do.
each page in this scrapbook of you
written in a violent hue
on my body is one you’ll rue.

Once I’ve worked out my solution,
plotted and planned my retribution,
prepared the waters of my ablution,
then I will stage my revolution
and enact our dissolution.
I’ll pluck my flower from your bouquet
and be no more beneath your sway.
I will be happy and free and gay
with no nightly price to pay.
I really will. One day, one day

The prompt word today is meaningless.

15 thoughts on “Bouquet”

    1. lifelessons Post author

      If you had grown up on the plains of SD you would have known it–or, if you had taken my “Lore of the West” or “Indian Literature” class. Unusual for you to find any term you don’t already know. Always honored to be part of your education as you are so often part of mine.

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  5. janebasilblog

    One day… the sad refrain of a man or woman who has been diminished by abuse. Let this be a warning to the victim who has just received their first beating, followed by apologies and promises. Don’t believe the promises and get out now, while you can,
    Beautifully done, Judy – this is a topic close to my heart.

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  6. lifelessons Post author

    Ha. I think someone came by in the middle of that message and then someone else and someone else. Don’t know how it got sent before being finished. Then a little girl let Morrie off his long lead and I had to chase him 1/4 mile down the beach. Bad Morrie. When he gets his freedom, he develops hearing loss.

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  7. Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC

    Jumped over from the Senior Salon
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    Another posted after I stopped visiting the links page shortly after midnight Wed nite/Thursday AM thinking the Salon closed at the end of the day. It was only a stroke of luck that I had to go back for a link.

    This one got me in the gut. Despite lousy timing and precious few resources, I once had to move to another state, running away from a verbally abusive relationship – well before it had a chance to become physically abusive, but still . . .

    An interesting post for the prompt “meaningless” — his flowers or her dreams of leaving “One day, one day”?
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
    ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
    “It takes a village to transform a world!”

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    1. lifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Dorann. I think there is that complexity in those who stay in an abusive relationship. I guess that is obvious..The loving side versus the hurting side, compounded by financial dependence or children or mores that don’t allow a wife to leave. Such a different world for women in some cultures and for some women in all cultures.

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