Marriage
begins with paper
ends with it too.
Quite surprising
how perfunctory
a decade can be
summarized, detailed,
logged, filed.
The first page
two names.
A joining.
A future.
How crisp.
Clean.
The end page
same names.
Faults
factual.
No future.
How crumpled.
Torn.
Documents don’t contain
the screams
the accusations
the sleepless nights
but she hears them
as she reads:
I don’t love you anymore.
You don’t love me.
You need me
like a child needs a parent.
You exhaust me.
You hurt me.
Though you’re still here
you left a long time ago.
I can’t do this anymore.
I don’t love you anymore.
Don’t say that
you fucking liar.
I know you love me.
I know you love me.
I know you love me.
I know you do.
I know you do.
I know you do.
I know you…
I know you…
I know you…
I know…
I know…
I know…
I…
I…
I…
Every mend, un-mended.
Every stride, gone backward.
Every touch, rebuffed.
Every kind word, unheard.
He came back.
Why this.
Why that.
How this.
How that.
What about.
What about.
When this.
When that.
Why.
Why.
Why.
She shrugged.
Confused gaze
trained on him
unsure why she
fought so hard,
so long.
Done.
Drained.
Spent.
A bottomless
cup can be emptied.
Ending pages
within sight
on the table.
Yes, she thinks
with finality.
Let it be done.
Though, none of this
exists within those
officious pages.
A good thing too.
It’d make for a
horrid read.
Finality (a poem), by
Christina Schmidt, MA
armedwithcoffee.com
I can’t say that, I’m not lost and at fault /
I can’t say that, I don’t love the light and the dark /
I can’t say that, I don’t know that I am alive
“Say It Right” Nelly Furtado
(armedwithcoffee) 
Wow, such powerful words Christina!
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Thank you, Eclectic. Not the easiest piece. I really appreciate your thoughts.
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Anyone who’s gone through a tough break-up can certainly identify with what you’ve written.
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I this woman’s pain. lol
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I meant: I feel this woman’s pain. (My previous post wouldn’t allow me to edit.)
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I understand and thank you, resistblue. I appreciate your thoughts and sorry for anyone who resonates.
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This is brutal. Well done. It’s like you took the phrase “reading between the lines” and made it a poem.
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Oh wow. I think it’s overly blunt, and every time I tried to “subtle” it down it became increasingly apologetic and unrealistic. So I went with blunt. But maybe I’m not being blunt. Maybe I’m reading between the lines with realism. You made me smile, I really appreciate your perspective. I needed that.
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I just really appreciated that with so few lines, you built up a love affair and completely tore it apart, and it felt like there were years of time and ages of pain inside those few lines.
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For me, a timeless feel while reading this. I really like it.
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Thank you M. Taggart. I’m connected to some really awesome writers and poets 🙂
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“a bottomless cup can be emptied” is a keeper. i’m sorry it was so painful to arrive at it.
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Thank you, Gary.
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Witnessing the divorce of a loved one over the past few years has given me more insight than I ever wanted into this painful process. Your poem is raw and honest…isn’t that the essence of good writing? I’m sure it’s easy to feel so alone during this time. I believe your poem will help and heal others.
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Thank you, Rita. I appreciate your good thoughts, and good word, very much.
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Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
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Thank you, Moorezart.
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Most welcome!
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Hi Christina I know couples like this. Stay well. Best from Florida
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Thank you, toritto. And likewise.
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Christina, Wonderfully cadenced dance of love and pain and agony and redemption.”Let it be done.” Yes, in those times, always let it be done.
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Thank you, Jordan. I do appreciate your thoughts.
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You’re most welcome, Christina. I do appreciate your work.
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