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Sullied Threads From Yesterdays

There's a pile of sullied threads on the floor
from muddied quarrels of our yesterdays
Remnants of life that we stripped bare
like sheets from a bed needing laundering

It's a hoard of soiled and frayed toggeries
too foul from words to be properly cleansed
I thought of trying to bury the lot of it
but shoveling the hurt left blisters on my hands

Invasive memories haunt many of my dreams
They are suffused deep within my thoughts
An inured scent of us will linger, unbleached, abused
like worn jeans as long as they remain unwashed

How long before I can ignore them lying there
gathered and rumpled in an alcove in my mind
Dark stains that only bring me pain and discontent
Too tainted to be purified by dirty human hands

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Duke Beaufort

Date: 7/24/2024 1:11:00 PM

Lin, this is a fascinating poem. I am one who suffers from thoughts that stem from unresolved past hurt, and which just seem to arise more often than I would like. Recently, I have spent a lot of time discussing some things with friends and through thinking on my own to see if I can understand how to resolve this phenomenon. It takes a lot of adjustment as to how I think about the course of my life and how I can make the best of the time I have left on this planet. It seems to help to expose/wash the laundry as much as possible.

Lin Lane
Date: 7/24/2024 1:23:00 PM

Duke, put unresolved, negative thoughts through the ringer with bleach as often as you need to do it. Don't live with dirty laundry... the past cannot be changed, but tomorrow is ours to live as best we see fit. Don't live with regrets, Duke. They weigh us down as heavily as if an albatross is slung around our necks. Thank you for reading and leaving your thoughts on this one. I also find writing cathartic.

David Kavanagh

Date: 7/20/2024 4:13:00 AM

A metaphoric masterclass Lin, with adept usage of the English language, a poets poem for sure, sometimes it’s best to leave well alone for fear of resurrecting old wounds, your final line is about as profound as profound can go, A superb piece, with so much baggage expressed, cheers David

Lin Lane
Date: 7/20/2024 5:02:00 AM

Welcome back hugs, David and merci, merci for reading this one. Your comments are always encouraging and supportive of my poetry and it's greatly valued.