Venus Goes Retrograde
It never quite goes back to the way it was.
What was once healthy and taut has been pulled
and stretched and ripped, pushing the limits
of what nature’s elasticity was intended to contain.
Life-giving veins are overrun with toxins,
circulating bile and sludge in this river of blood.
Scrambling hands hold fatty piles of neglected flesh
as they droop and dip in their chaotic imbalance.
There’s nothing the latest fad plan can do to fix
the acute symptoms that have been ignored.
There’s nothing modern medicine can do to fix
malignant growth left too long to its own devices.
Surgically, most things can be repaired or altered
to appear as they once were, but to fool a heart
that knew every crease, crevice and flaw?
To restore years of neglect as if it never happened
is an impossibility within a sea of improbabilities.
Yet there you stand, with my heart in your hand.
Seems such a waste of a vibrant, potent organ.
Comments
Wow!! Thats some very powerful writing, Jenifer! Very nice!~S
Thanks Steve. :)
– Jenifer DeBellis
Yikes…never expected that ending! Actually, had to read this twice, as it seemed to have double meaning at first. However, I believe it was all meant to cleverly lead up to this point so well made and delivered perfectly with your ending verse. And ouch to that! Great job! XOXOXOXOXXOXOXO
The imagery was birthed while I meditated on the state of so many of the relational affairs around me. I was imagining how difficult and even burdensome it is to try and hold all the dilapidated flab as it heavily oozes and sifts through my tired hands. And then I balanced this against the contemporary, slide-in-under-the-door-ditch-and-run — be-grateful-I-squeezed-you-in-at-all investment of time people seem to make in relationships these days. And that ending, well it happened on it’s own. I got to that line and that is what spilled from my soul, unprocessed or adulterated. So thank you, xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
Oh wow, this is incredible, very powerful, wonderful writing:)
Thank you. xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
This reminds me of strong friendships gone to waste without anyone knowing why. And it makes me really sad, for lack of better words. I kind of wanted to write something on the same topic; haven’t gotten to it yet. This reminds me of a lot of people, a lot of Lost Living that haunt me but don’t seek me out.
This is exactly what this is about. It’s one of life’s most painful casualties and it is really sad. And I wish you would write about it. I miss seeing the world in such ways through your eyes. :) xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
pulsating brilliance Jen…….congratulations
I am often amused and giggle into a quiet room while reading some of the things you say. This is another one of those times. :) Thanks for the feature, xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
This is a powerful statement about loss, Jenifer. I am struck by your vivid, searing imagery and the various levels of meaning here. LOve this work!….Mike
Sometimes the pain cuts so deep that the visuals flood you in a racing stream and in their vibrant vividness such imagery swims into full view. I’m excited that you managed to catch the various levels of meaning. And thanks for the favourite. :) xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
Thank you, Holly. xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
*To restore years of neglect as if it never happened
is an impossibility within a sea of improbabilities.
Yet there you stand, with my heart in your hand.
Seems such a waste of a vibrant, potent organ.*
Great writing & spirit shown with the closing lines…my fav…
Thank you so much, Sure. xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
Brilliant write. Love all the different meanings you managed to pack in there. :-) xo
Thank you. xox
– Jenifer DeBellis
Sept. 2011
This is wonderful. Thanks for featuring my work. xox
– Jenifer DeBellis