Broken
Black wingtips crunching broken glass—
She’s very late tonight.
Motionless except for his mind racing producing anxiety.
She hasn’t answered his text or calls.
She promised him she’d be there—
He’s praying for his daughter's sobriety.
Did she really make her last meeting?
Did she miss the train on this rainy night?
Wondering if he should go look for her or hover by the wall.
He’s memorized the wall’s every imperfection.
He’s thinking about the wall she put up between them once...
And how her recovering allowed it to fall.
There are hordes of people eager to go somewhere—
So many umbrellas.
His black umbrella with its broken spoke there by the wall.
Praying there’s an innocent explanation.
Praying she still loves herself the most.
Praying she’s still smiling, and she’ll soon call.
Praying for his grown little girl; Patiently waiting for her in the rain.
Broken glass, broken spoke, broken promise— pain.
Linking with Poet’s United
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/
For: Sumana’s Prompt “The Wall”
Photo: unsplash
So sad. I'll always pray for such walls to fall apart. "He's praying for his daughter's sobriety."---Nothing could be sadder than this. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sumana. Although this is fiction, we have had to feel this type of wall years ago, and are so very thankful that this kind of wall has crumbled.
DeletePow! That second stanza knocked my socks off--I can see him, know the memorizing of the wall, the indecision, the prayers. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan.
DeleteOh, this is such a scary scenario — the pain of waiting for an answer is palpable here. The urgency of the situation is felt. I like how you remarked on how those walls fell down as part of her recovery.
ReplyDeleteQuite a tension-filled verse. Very well-penned.
-HA
Thanks so much, HA.
DeleteSuch deep angst of the loving parent here and that wall of confusion. Profound write
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog today Vicki
Much🦅💙💛love
Thank you, same here.
DeleteThe wall between parent and child - a sad very real wall. Excellent write.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Toni.
DeleteI love the wall that fell when she recovered, and empathize with his pain worrying about her, an emotion well known to every parent.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry.
DeleteOne of the hardest things for a parent is letting go; but still wondering whether you have taught them enough to fly on their own.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is, Thank you.
DeleteThis sad story is probably all too common.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured so much in the poem but what stands out the most is the anxiety of waiting, something that every parent knows.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim.
DeleteChildren are a source of joy and grief. Tis life.
ReplyDeleteEach life so complicated. A sad story you tell.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne.
Delete