Change, or: Estrange

His doubts pained her 
profoundly / Why wouldn't he
believe in her words? Quarantined 
alone at home, with only her enchanting
descriptions of the world outside 
to raise his spirts, but still 
he wouldn't / Instead 
he compelled her,
insisting she
repeat after 
him, 
repeat his darkest 
thoughts
repeat sorrows and 
banalities / 
Why are you doing this? She
cried / Can you really no longer perceive 
beauty? She whimpered / Sprites, she 
promised him - 
are dancing 
with fallen leaves in the wind, 
and pixies -
are prancing 
daintily across the puddles / But 
he would 
have none of it / 
Nonsense, 
he said / Now, 
read: 
[She shuddered but attempted to oblige 
him] All is cold, all is dead, and the world 
has become sheer hell frozen, unfurled,
where fantasies, so naïve, once had twirled,
there is now / 
Her graceful body 
heaved 
as she 
retched 
his 
horrid words out / 
No! No! 
No! I won't 
do this / What do 
you mean you 
won't? 
I mean: I 
won't 
be your poem anymore!

68 thoughts on “Change, or: Estrange”

1. Reblogged this on Love and Love Alone.

2. Smart Sprite! Time to listen to her and find that positive voice! Well done David.
   I liked this line…

   Her graceful body
   heaved
   as she
   retched
   his
   horrid words out /

   1. Thank you so very much, Dwight!

      1. You are welcome!

3. I was not sure where this poem was headed. The not knowing made for an interesting journey with a surprising ending. Very creative, David. 🧚‍♀️

   1. I really appreciate your saying so, Michele – that’s what I was going for 🙂

      1. Mission accomplished! 👏

4. Oh, I love this. Beautiful and tragic, the poem personified.

   1. 💖 💖 💖

5. Very well done! Wonderfully penned. An enjoyable read!😊. Thank you David.

   1. No, thank you, Suzette 💖

      1. Pleasure😊👍

6. Woo her back David…don’t let her leave! Nicely done 😊

   1. 😁

7. […] https://skepticskaddish.com/2021/01/15/change-or-estrange/ […]

8. This one is especially good

   1. really? 😮

      1. Yes, I really did think I was perceiving a female human being.

9. So cleverly done, David. To feel ones own verse resist, reluctant to simply be whatever repetitive expression he has chosen. Almost as if a writer’s greatest ally is his own verse, refusing to accept banality. Forcing the writer to strive for more. To grow beyond settled bounds.

   1. 💖

10. Moving.

    1. Really? 😮

       I honestly wasn’t expecting that as a response to this piece! Thanks, Shira ❤

       1. You’re welcome, David! Yes, it was moving. More in an ‘I no longer have an appetite for a few hours’ kind of way, but yes.
          Chodesh Tov,
          -Shira

          1. Chodesh tov!

11. What a unique and creative “Take” on the challenge. Well done.

    1. Thanks so much, Beverly 🙂

       -David

12. Very nicely done

    1. 🧚

    2. Thanks, Lauren!