Before the denials can leave your lips,
your eyes betray you.
I see them linger on the objects
of your longing.
Divinity denied so freely
in cultured company,
but suddenly so desperately required.
You told me when we first met,
just how strong you are;
now I’m watching you fall apart.
And the most upsetting thing
is not your tears,
or your distress,
or your new vulnerability;
it is the fact that you’re only now
admitting your humanity.
Just like the rest of us,
you’re going to need love
and knowing you’re special,
just not in the way you thought.
A broken ego,
can be a wound that makes us stronger.
HG -2016
If there were ever to be a poetic response to Thomas Carew’s ‘A divine mistress ‘ in terms of a bystander or even a close bosom friend, this would be it.
The following lines in his poem:
“She hath too much divinity for me : /
You gods, teach her some more humanity”
would hypothetically relate to your lines:
“And the most upsetting thing
/
…
/
it is the fact that you’re only now
/admitting your humanity.”
It feels as if this would be the reality the speaker in Carew’s poem would have to face within time.
I find your poem to be well-crafted and definitely a favourite now.
I must admit, I have never read Thomas Carew, but I guess I will have to make myself familiar with his work. Thank you for reading and for your insightful comment! I am glad you are enjoying the writing!