still afraid

[motherhubbard]

I thought I saw you lurking in the shadows
and I know I met your eyes in the hallway yesterday.
That’s the second time this month that you have
crept up from the past and frightened me.
I try to tell myself that you have no power over me,
you’ve grown old and weak,
while I have gained an inner strength,
but I wonder-
I doubt.
Then I tell myself that it’s not you at all
It’s just a memory haunting me
Those blue eyes were human
That half grin lacked malice;
or did it-
Twenty years is a long time to hold my breath,
a long time to be afraid.
Even though you can’t hurt me now,
you’ve seen what fear looks like in my eyes
the way no other has.
That is where your power lies,
and why I still look over my shoulder.

[Granny5]

Wow. And you think I've been busy. I like it, Kiddo. But it makes me wonder...

[symphony]

made me really want to look over my shoulder for a while, damn u had me scared! it's 2:22 in the morning and now i'm feeling spooky, sitting here all alone :p
And mom, "week" will be "weak" in 6th line, if i'm not mistaken.
Nice poem. :)

[motherhubbard]

thanks symph! I fixed it.

[Lote-Tree]

I love this poem :D
Very good!

[motherhubbard]

thank you, Lote! I was beginning to think that no one loved me anymore. I haven't been around a lot lately. But I had a little time this afternoon. It's over now though.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Scary poem, MotherH! I wonder if any man could have written that; if in fact there are certain types of menace that only women ever experience. Even if I didn't have a cherished daughter, daughters-in-law and several grand- daughters, I'd be spooked at how men and women live in different countries to som extent.

[motherhubbard]

I had never thought about how different it was for a man in that way. I'm sure they have their own sack of rocks to drag around though. Thanks for responding Jerry.

[firefangled]

Even though you can’t hurt me now,
you’ve seen what fear looks like in my eyes
the way no other has.
That is where your power lies,
and why I still look over my shoulder.



A very haunting poem, motherhubbard. I think these lines say it all.

I've been wondering where you've been. I for one have missed your contibutions here.

[motherhubbard]

Thank you. I've missed you and everyone. I think that I think about lit net more when I'm not here than when I'm here and that really says a lot. I appreciate your comment.

[ampoule]

Those old things
creep up on us,
creep us out,
leave us feeling creepy,
until they creep back out again.

loved your poem MH

[Demian]

I do not know your inspiration for this poem, but it did remind me of all the family ties that bind me to this very day (and probably always will). Thank you for sharing this.

[stephofthenight]

mother, as always you have taken the words strait off my heart. i wish i would have read this yesterday it would have been perfect. you capture your emotion and everything else in this poem...but it holds true to things so many people have experinced. what an amzing poem. ive missed you!!! welcome back!!!

[motherhubbard]

Thanks Steph. You sure are a nice girl.

[Granny5]

http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/2417/162/

check this out. Nothing scary.

[motherhubbard]

I didn't read all of it. It was long. The poem was not about Spencer. I've been in e-mail contact with amy for some time. The band is scary to me. Not something for children! His pics. are so different from what he was.

[Granny5]

I didn't read all of it. It was long. The poem was not about Spencer. I've been in e-mail contact with amy for some time. The band is scary to me. Not something for children! His pics. are so different from what he was.

He's scary and ugly where he was such a beautiful guy before. Glad it's not about him....of course, I would understand why you would be afraid after looking at his current pics.

[motherhubbard]

I know, WOW he was good looking. Bailey has this movie called Tristan and Isolde. he looked just like James Franko in that movie, look

[Granny5]

Oh my gosh!! It does look just like he used to look. Too bad he
looks so scary now.

[motherhubbard]

Yeah, I don't regret that. I sweat every time I watch that movie, and I watch often!

[Granny5]

Every time yiou watch it!!! We should watch it together...the family that sweats together and all that.

[motherhubbard]

I'll send it tonight. too bad you didn't have it last night with pop gone!

[Granny5]

Oh, behave!!!

[stormy sky]

a dark shadow seems to trail this work.i like it very much

[Pendragon]

I thought I saw your lurking in the shadows
and I know I met your eyes in the hallway yesterday.
That’s the second time this month that you have
crept up from the past and frightened me.
I try to tell myself that you have no power over me,
you’ve grown old and weak,
while I have gained an inner strength,
but I wonder-
I doubt.
Then I tell myself that it’s not you at all
It’s just a memory haunting me
Those blue eyes were human
That half grin lacked malice;
or did it-
Twenty years is a long time to hold my breath,
a long time to be afraid.
Even though you can’t hurt me now,
you’ve seen what fear looks like in my eyes
the way no other has.
That is where your power lies,
and why I still look over my shoulder.Haunted, Mother H? It isn't really there or is it? Just kidding. First line I think should be "you" not "your".
Good poem for Halloween! PS. If you really feel haunted, I've been there too.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Ghost.gif

[motherhubbard]

thanks Pen, one of us should have caught that your by now!