eyelids closing now
first class ticket to dream land
hope to see you there
Taking the first step...
Once you make a decision,
the universe conspires to make it happen.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
the universe conspires to make it happen.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Innocence lost
I am writing from a place you have never been
Where a nineteen-year-old girl was naive
and an old man took advantage
Where she heads off to work in a row house
that resembles an office
It's filled with sketches, blueprints and a
huge wooden drafting table equipped with a stool
Where the boss sits and watches from the corner of his eye
Slowing undressing her while she’s performing her duties
Where his thoughts are indecent and his motives are shameful
Where the atmosphere is often quiet except when the phone rings
A sound of relief that keeps her distracted
from the obvious behavior of man so determined to seduce her
Regardless of the fact that his wife has met her
and even adores her
Their daughter has befriended her
and even resembles her
Where the days are long and often exhausting
Fighting off advances and refusing his gratuities
in between counting the fixtures and handing out paychecks
Where the nights are much worse
She feels powerless and afraid as he climbs on top of her
The weight is enormous and she feels like she's drowning
The sounds of his panting like a dog in heat so close to her ears
The moaning gets louder outweighing the clock just above them
As the second hand ticks slower and slower as she stares off
into space wondering why is this happening
Now the tears are flowing like a miniature waterfall
and her clothes are disheveled like a recent windstorm
The smell of his aroma seems embedded in her skin
So strong to the nostril that you can’t find the
words but it will long be remembered
It’s a brand new day and she’s back at her desk
She’s answering the phones and it’s business as usual
(copyright 8/05)
Where a nineteen-year-old girl was naive
and an old man took advantage
Where she heads off to work in a row house
that resembles an office
It's filled with sketches, blueprints and a
huge wooden drafting table equipped with a stool
Where the boss sits and watches from the corner of his eye
Slowing undressing her while she’s performing her duties
Where his thoughts are indecent and his motives are shameful
Where the atmosphere is often quiet except when the phone rings
A sound of relief that keeps her distracted
from the obvious behavior of man so determined to seduce her
Regardless of the fact that his wife has met her
and even adores her
Their daughter has befriended her
and even resembles her
Where the days are long and often exhausting
Fighting off advances and refusing his gratuities
in between counting the fixtures and handing out paychecks
Where the nights are much worse
She feels powerless and afraid as he climbs on top of her
The weight is enormous and she feels like she's drowning
The sounds of his panting like a dog in heat so close to her ears
The moaning gets louder outweighing the clock just above them
As the second hand ticks slower and slower as she stares off
into space wondering why is this happening
Now the tears are flowing like a miniature waterfall
and her clothes are disheveled like a recent windstorm
The smell of his aroma seems embedded in her skin
So strong to the nostril that you can’t find the
words but it will long be remembered
It’s a brand new day and she’s back at her desk
She’s answering the phones and it’s business as usual
(copyright 8/05)
Today's prompt....
It's your main character's wedding day and....
When the telephone rang, I was surprised to learn that it was Michael. Caught up with the many task ahead, he was the last person that I’d expected to hear from. The sound of his voice was different, nervous and low. Not his usual strong and confident tone that I loved so much. He said that he needed to talk to me and that he was on his way over. Before I could ask what it was in reference to, he had hung up the telephone. What could be so important with the wedding only five hours away? Was he having second thoughts? Did he regret asking me to be his wife? My mind was in a tailspin and I had no control over my thoughts. I immediately ran to the bathroom. To say that I felt butterflies would be an understatement. It was as if I’d eaten something spoiled and my stomach was in knots.
Before I realized it, he was ringing the doorbell. I knew it had to be serious because he did not use his key. And just before I let him in, I paused at the oval shaped mirror in the foyer to check my appearance. I wanted be sure to have on my happy face and not the "What could possibly ruin this day-face?" When I opened the door, he abruptly walked right pass me. No warm greeting, no hug and certainly no indication that this was the happiest day of his life.
"Baby, what is it?" I asked him. He could barely look at me when he turned and took me by the hand. He led me to the sofa; the one we spent countless hours on getting to know one another and later planning our wedding. Just after clearing his throat, he looked deep into my eyes and said, "I need to tell you something and there’s no easy way to say it." Before he could go on, I took a deep breath and told him that I loved him and that we were getting married in less than five hours. Nothing he could say would change that. He looked into my eyes and as a tear rolled down his cheek, he said, "I never got the divorce; Lisa and I are still married."
When the telephone rang, I was surprised to learn that it was Michael. Caught up with the many task ahead, he was the last person that I’d expected to hear from. The sound of his voice was different, nervous and low. Not his usual strong and confident tone that I loved so much. He said that he needed to talk to me and that he was on his way over. Before I could ask what it was in reference to, he had hung up the telephone. What could be so important with the wedding only five hours away? Was he having second thoughts? Did he regret asking me to be his wife? My mind was in a tailspin and I had no control over my thoughts. I immediately ran to the bathroom. To say that I felt butterflies would be an understatement. It was as if I’d eaten something spoiled and my stomach was in knots.
Before I realized it, he was ringing the doorbell. I knew it had to be serious because he did not use his key. And just before I let him in, I paused at the oval shaped mirror in the foyer to check my appearance. I wanted be sure to have on my happy face and not the "What could possibly ruin this day-face?" When I opened the door, he abruptly walked right pass me. No warm greeting, no hug and certainly no indication that this was the happiest day of his life.
"Baby, what is it?" I asked him. He could barely look at me when he turned and took me by the hand. He led me to the sofa; the one we spent countless hours on getting to know one another and later planning our wedding. Just after clearing his throat, he looked deep into my eyes and said, "I need to tell you something and there’s no easy way to say it." Before he could go on, I took a deep breath and told him that I loved him and that we were getting married in less than five hours. Nothing he could say would change that. He looked into my eyes and as a tear rolled down his cheek, he said, "I never got the divorce; Lisa and I are still married."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
