Mary #2

[Pendragon]

MARY #2

You were so bubbly, so vivacious,
so utterly full of joie de vivre.
I met you at the library
and took the time
to help you find that special book you were looking for.
Then, it seemed I saw you
every week,
that you timed your visits
so as to run into me,
and you always had a new problem,
or a new question to ask.
The ugly rumors soon surfaced
about my “new, younger girlfriend.”
At last I stopped going to the library
altogether,
and tried to avoid you at all costs.
The weeks passed like dripping molasses.
Today I read about your suicide
in the morning paper.
Looking at your little-girl smile
one last time
beneath the honey-colored curls,
I realize:
all you ever really wanted
was just a friend…

Pendragon

[hillwalker]

What a really bittersweet poem.

It's simplicity is charming and deceptive, given the poignant note on which it ends.

line 6 repeats much of the previous line - and cutting that line out does not detract from the rest of the poem. Other than that a very enjoyable poem.

[PrinceMyshkin]

What a blow those last lines provide! I think you really ought to begin a second verse at "Today I read about your suicide..." to emphasize the distance between these two very dissimilar encounters with her.

[qimissung]

That one's got to hit close to home, Pendragon. I am so very, very sorry.

[MorpheusSandman]

Quite a sobering piece, though I almost feel it would work better as a short story than a poem. But it's still quite affective as is.

[Hawkman]

Very good, thought provoking poem.

[Pendragon]

OK, I changed a few things, really great editing ideas from all. This was written shortly after a girl I graduated with committed suicide over a relationship breakup. The date escapes me, as I didn't write it down. Here's to your memory, Sandy...