It is very hard to write this way, beginning things backward…
–The Torrents of Spring (1926)
Standing at the edge of the water,
alone, at sunset, remembering the
innumerable times you begged me
with a happy, hopeful smile
to come to watch them with you
and I declined. And all the rest too.
There is no other part to this story
that is worth telling.
Trapped in flesh-suffocating regret,
a tar I flail to escape that snaps
me back to inert suffering yet again.
Held still as survival receptors
mock. Superstitious holiday where
shadows of clear never go away.
I am today’s host of dVerse’ Poetics. I say:
Your challenge today, should you choose to accept it, is to pick ONE of Hemingway’s quotes to be inspired by and write a poem.
Tao Talk 
Oh… if you start with the end, you can only work your way backward through the regrets…
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😦 yes, ad infinitum…
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This is a very difficult situation: Trapped in flesh-suffocating regret.
How does one get out of the cycle? Thanks for hosting!
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Thank you for your comment. I can imagine a giant golden eagle lifting me out of the mire to a warm salty sea where the residue can be washed away…
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The problem with regret is that it ties one to moments in the past, preventing one from seeing the potential before them
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Uh-huh, like sticky tar 😦
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Yep.
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“Trapped in flesh-suffocating regret, a tar I flail to escape that snaps,” .. this is incredibly potent! It can be very difficult to make your way out of this cycle.. it has the ability to consume people. Thank you so much for the glorious prompt, Lisa 💝💝
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Sanaa, thank you for your thoughtful comment and you are very welcome for the prompt ❤
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This sounds like the end result of profound loss. Heartbreaking and raw!
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Ingrid thank you for your empathy for the person in the poem ❤
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Impossible not to feel it!
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Truly heartbreaking and poignant.
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Thank you, Lucy.
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Is it just me, or was this poem done after the couplet? In any event, I loved it. And I love the topic you chose. Btw, “Torrents” is one that I have not yet read, but it is on my list. Thanks again for the excellent prompt.
–Shay
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Thank you, Shay, I’m not sure what the question is? I’ve only read one of his books so far, but after watching the series the plan is to read more. You’re very welcome on the prompt and I’m glad it worked out to you visiting dVerse pub. Hope to see you here again 🙂
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I meant that your first 8 lines make a fine poem by themselves.
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Ah! OK 🙂 Thank you.
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brilliant piece! Loved it! ❤
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Thank you, Carol anne!
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Who ever thought that poetics created bassackwards could convey such emotion? The couplet is jarring, reinforcing the loss or dimming of parameters, the loss of linear perception; nice job.
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Thank you so much for your feedback, Glenn, that is a good way of putting it, loss of parameters and linear perception, now it’s just a state of being 😦
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“flesh-suffocating regret”.. That’s a hard one to ease out of. All a part of life my dear. Well put.
Pat
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Thank you, Pat.
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Tar-iffic work! And thanks for the cool prompt, Lisa. I had a tough time getting going, but I’m hoping…
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Thank you, Ron. I just read yours and really liked the Hemingway-ness of it.
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Beautiful poetry Li. The regret just oozes out.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome ☺️
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Such a wonderful prompt! Your poem grips the heart. We all hold regrets of one kind or another. Lovely writing Lisa!
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Carrie, thank you very much ❤
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Very nicely done Lisa. Regrets do come with starting backwards.
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Thank you, Dwight.
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LIsa,
Thanks for hosting and for the prompt. I especially like how you inserted these lines between your two stanzas. Perfectly done.
“There is no other part to this story
that is worth telling.”
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Ali, thank you. Like Shay mentioned, I could have (should have?) stopped there. I didn’t want to go into the rationalizations as much as the state of being that has resulted.
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I can feel that tar of regret, and that “snap” back to suffering as resistance just makes it worse. Enjoying all the wonderful creations inspired by your prompt tonight! 💗
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Thanks, Tricia. It’s not easy to shake off. I’m likewise enjoying all of the poems! Papa would be very pleased ❤
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Yes!
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powerful rendition of grief and regret, the danger of looking back … you’ve expressed it so effectively!
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Indeed, Kate! Thank you.
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It’s hard to get past those deep regrets. They always haunt. Wonderful illustration too.
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Yes it is. Thanks, K.
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No other part worth telling … incredibly sad, Lisa. I have felt that sadness you so beautifully captured.
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Thank you very much, Helen. I appreciate your caring and sorry you can relate to the feeling 😦
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The nice thing is that the sun also rises on another day, again and again and again. We can’t go back, but there’s always today. There will always be a sunrise and a sunset to look forward to.
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The title of my poem means something. It is when the sun is out that the groundhog’s shadow is seen, meaning 6 more weeks of winter (think of metaphors for winter.) Also in the movie of the same name, the day plays itself over and over. This kind of haunting is worst on beautiful days (beautiful sunsets.)
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I read the title, I didn’t place it with the movie, I just took it as regrets that keep cycling back over and over.
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regret…possibly the heaviest of emotions
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It ranks right up there.
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you captured the cycle of regret and the imprisoning feeling of it. i love how this cascaded also opening with melancholia of sunset and solitude.
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Rosemarie, thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated.
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Regret is one of the hardest emotions to conquer. This phrase opens the door: “Trapped in flesh-suffocating regret,
a tar I flail to escape that snaps me back to inert suffering yet again…” The emotions shared in this piece are so powerful. Knocks the wind out of you!
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Colleen, thank you for your heartfelt comment.
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A beautiful powerful poem, msjadeli.
“There is no other part to this story
that is worth telling.”
And yet it is more than enough, poignant, relatable, vivid. ❤
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Thank you so much, Sunra!
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the 2nd stanza esp., but all of it well crafted. a darker shade of melancholy one might not ever find ~
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M, what’s that quote about staring into the abyss? It’s not a place I like to stare into for long.
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It stares back. Yep, agreed
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Such a goodness poem, it’s hard to get past those deep regret
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Thank you.
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Okay dear 😊
How are you doing over there
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Do I know you?
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Yeah
Am author from California
What about you
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I don’t think I do know you.
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I do not know you.
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