She summoned fortitude, haunted by certainty
he would leave with a leaden and cold heart
if she did nothing.
Careful remorse rippled
through her words
that slid across lavender paper.
She qualified her emotions
with quickening contrived evidence
of changes in demeanor and heart.
Quaint, compared to her earlier tirades
with fountains of fiery profanities
that spewed past her straining lips.
Those foul words careened
past his horrified ears
and rigid face.
Her words had the sour smell
of rotten cabbage
that the farmhand thoughtlessly
left to lurk in the cellar
long after the next year’s crops
had already been planted.
In her letter she used the most graceful of phrases
she knew would turn his heart towards hers.
He read them with a dwindling hopeful expression
and a heightened awareness
of what was inside her efforts,
then silently turned away from the paper
with a knowing smile.
Author notes
These words were used from the bank provided:
Cabbage
Careen
Careful
Farmer
Fortitude
Fountain
Haunting
Heighten
Horrify
Quaint
Qualified
Quickening
Remorse
Rigid
Ripple
A contest entry
- Word Bank Anyone? by Pamela A Lamppa.
1750 points, ended November 6, 2008, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Tell me your first impression and favorite image.
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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Ahhh, to read between the lines of eloquence is mastery, and I would say you have mastered the use of this wordbank with your intriguing tale. Well done. I am so pleased to have read this delight. Thank you for your entry and best of luck in the judging. ~Pamela
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Thank you for the thoughtful comments and applause.
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Thank you for an awesome entry.
~Pam
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A readable tale with a mysterious ending, leaving us wanting to know what's going to happen. Lover's quarrels always make good reading.
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Thank you Judy! I think he cut his losses and later found a nicer lady.
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