for dVerse, where we are to write about opposites.
Deep Dream Generated by Sascha Darlington
The Opposite of Love
Relationships swing
like pendulums
with roles reversing
love to hate to love
to something else again
and maybe not all are like this.
Maybe some are steadfast
knowing, confident, linear
I hear they exist
pure love
untainted love
but I’ve never seen it.
My parents weren’t loving
to each other, unless love
masked under fury, meanness.
The camouflage uncovered
years later explained heartache.
And us. I was stupid, you were a Rockstar
I thought you were smarter, better, stronger
I thought you were all I could never be
until I was, realizing late, that you weren’t.
It’s not that we were opposites.
but you have always convinced yourself of truths
while I’ve had to research mine, knowing
from experience, all is not what it seems
especially when family is involved.
You adjust blinders, I remove mine.
I’ve touched the bottom and seen my truth,
cold, ugly, frightening, undeniable.
You skirt the edges.
end 6/27/2018
Sascha Darlington
Great poem!
Thank you! 🙂
Wonderfully honest and beautiful. Searching out the corners of this love, I think without casting aspersions. I am left unsure whether the deep researcher or the poem edge skitter is more to be emulated, but those who have plumbed dark corners feel the light better when they see it. This is strangely similar to Grace’s poem, like it is from a slightly alternate universe. Thank you for this.
Nice lines: “The camouflage uncovered
years later explained heartache.” And nice opposites: “You adjust blinders, I remove mine.”
These lines:
“I thought you were all I could never be
until I was, realizing late, that you weren’t.”
A very hard-truth poem. I think there is such a thing as undconditional love….but it also contains the statement “I love you but I do not like what you are doing.” Or “I love you, but I hate what you are saying.” So — I think there can be some amount of hate within love…does that make sense?
Here you’ve defined a relationship so very well….that definition coming to light with the passage of time. I also think these words “You adjust blinders, I remove mine.” are very interesting ones. I wonder if one’s responses to the world, to issues and problems, adjusts as we get older, our peripheral vision narrowing somewhat?
Ah you’ve made me ponder a lot here….and that is the sign of a good writer!
Glad you posted to the prompt.
Thank you so much Lilian. I think most people want unconditional love, idealized love, suspecting that the grass is greener next door when upon closer inspection, it’s not. But I do believe that some people do fin others with whom they just click. Maybe there’s some sparring, but no grudges are ever held.
Beautiful.
Thank you so much! 🙂