Today’s entry combines a prompt from Kelli Russell Agodon‘s list:

Write a poem that only has five syllables in each line. Give the poem a long title.

with a prompt from PoeWar‘s list:

Write a poem in which a similar or identical phrase is repeated three or more times throughout the poem.

RUMINATIONS ON A DECADE IN WHICH WE WENT FROM ‘LOVE OF MY LIFE’ TO PERSONÆ NON GRATA

Were we not worth it?
I don’t understand
So much resentment
no conversation
just space and silence
and self-reliance 

We were together
but out for ourselves
We didn’t matter
things weren’t the same
No words could answer
the questions unasked 

Were we together?
I don’t understand
I have nothing left
to prove that was us
just silence and space
fading memories 

We were not worth it
I have to assume
Nothing connects us
anymore, it seems
just space and silence
fading memories 

I can’t speak for you
but that’s how I feel
only forgetting
will give me relief
But feelings linger
as memories fade

(22 April 2014)