The Ring of Truth
My finger feels the absence of my rings.
They had been there for so long,
so welcome
so integral to me
just like our love
that the lack of them is more
pronounced.
It is like a phantom limb for me, that place on my finger
where they were.
Two silver bands
wrought by two different hands
presented in
two different lands
by one true man.
As I changed, they moved more and more
roaming on the surface of my skin,
exploring their limits
and pushing their boundaries,
leaping from my finger
in a joyful, hard-won free flight
from time to time.
I still
sometimes have a momentary sense of panic
when I feel for them
and they are not there.
And then I remember.
They live now,
a comfortable, safe life
on a false hand that I bought
for no discernable purpose
long before I met you
just because I knew
that for some reason I had forgotten
I needed one.
They sit
stacked as always
on a graceful acetate finger
next to an alarm clock
and a rubber chicken
not fulfilling their destiny
but waiting
patiently
eternally patient.
I cannot always see them
but I always know
that they are there.
Submitted to the Thursday Poet’s Rally.
43 comments
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February 17, 2011 at 9:44 am
TheIdiotSpeaketh
Beautiful poem! I love how you worked the rubber chicken into the poem! Well done! I tend to think that weaving a rubber chicken into a serious piece of poetry is not as easy as some would think. You have a real talent! 🙂
February 17, 2011 at 10:37 am
Seasweetie
You make me laugh, id!
February 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Jingle
stunning imagery,
your title is sizzling.. cheers.
February 17, 2011 at 2:22 pm
slpmartin
Wow…now these lines capture in poetic form so much of your previous post about the stages of your life…well crafted poem.
February 17, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you!
February 17, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Thursday Poets Rally Week 38 (Feb 17-23) | Jingle
[…] Seasweetie: https://seasweetie.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/the-ring-of-truth-an-original-thursday-poem/ […]
February 17, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Rhyme Me a Smile
It definitely takes talent to work a rubber chicken into a serious piece of poetry. Well done. 🙂
My Poet’s Rally post: Imbiciles Turn Criminal
February 18, 2011 at 8:27 am
Seasweetie
Thanks, Rhyme – yours was fascinating!
February 18, 2011 at 12:21 am
fiveloaf
great observation.. here’s my week 38! http://fiveloaf.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/i-cant-hold-it/
February 18, 2011 at 8:24 am
Seasweetie
Thank you for visiting, fiveloaf!
February 18, 2011 at 1:22 am
Rashmi
So beautifully crafted poem…wonderful imagery….
February 18, 2011 at 8:24 am
Seasweetie
Thanks, Rashmi!
February 18, 2011 at 7:28 am
belfastdavid
Beautiful love poem
And I love the rubber chicken 🙂
February 18, 2011 at 8:24 am
Seasweetie
Thanks! I may make it a challenge to include the rubber chicken in every poem for a month.
February 18, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Mike Patrick
I thought rubber chicken was served at banquets. Nicely done poem.
February 19, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Seasweetie
The mysterious rubber chicken comes in many forms, Mike!
February 18, 2011 at 8:39 pm
rmpWritings
“It is like a phantom limb for me.” absolutely beautiful and touching. you paint an amazing picture with your words.
February 19, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you, rmp – what a lovely compliment.
February 18, 2011 at 9:23 pm
aynsley7
I hope you find happiness
I hope that this sadness doesn’t last
I am sad for you
I am praying for you
February 19, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you, aynsley7 – I’m starting to feel the need for prayers.
February 19, 2011 at 12:32 am
Becca Givens
OMG – what a challenge you would set for yourself – to work in the rubber chicken in a poem fo a month … would love to follow that trend.
Enjoyed reading your work.
Here is my first rally entry:
February 19, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Seasweetie
I really may do it, Becca – thanks for visiting, and I’ll be sure to return the favor.
February 19, 2011 at 5:59 am
torquethis
Wow, I went through such a myriad of emotions reading this. Great work.
February 19, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Seasweetie
Thanks, torquethis – and thanks for visiting.
February 20, 2011 at 6:33 pm
teenagepoet
Great poem, the first stanza’s my favorite
February 20, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you, teenagepoet, and thank you for visiting!
February 20, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Lu Ann
Wow, this is a very, very well written poem, I loved it. Thanks for sharing
February 20, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you, Lu Ann. I’m so glad you stopped by!
February 21, 2011 at 6:38 am
LeiffyV
Oh, if only it were a rubber chicken alarm clock. Great work with this piece, the ring always carries a weight to it which is completely untold. You expressed it quite well. Thanks for sharing with us!
February 21, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Seasweetie
The weight of the ring…I like that idea. You may find that in another poem soon. And maybe it’s time to invent a rubber chicken alarm clock, Leiffy.
February 21, 2011 at 7:05 pm
lunawitch15
Really nice!
February 21, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Seasweetie
Thanks, lunawitch!
February 22, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Nyx
Beautiful. Both everyday and rare. Fantastic.
February 22, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you, Nyx!
February 22, 2011 at 5:25 pm
brain of betty
Any poem with a rubber chicken reference is my kind of poem. I thought the poem was very real and easy to relate to.
February 22, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Seasweetie
Thanks, Betty and thanks for visiting!
February 23, 2011 at 10:05 am
Chrissy
such a melancholic feel to this but strangely also an inspiring warmth of hope too! Nicely done. I especially loved this line… “just because I knew that for some reason I had forgotten I needed one.”
February 23, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you, Chrissy!
February 23, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Marlee-I Mystic
Great description of that feeling of a ring missing after being there for so long. I enjoyed this, thanks for sharing
February 23, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Seasweetie
Thank you for visiting, Marlee.
February 23, 2011 at 10:13 pm
The Celebrate Poet of Spring in 2011 Awards Nomination Accouncement | Promising Poets' Parking Lot
[…] Seasweetie: https://seasweetie.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/the-ring-of-truth-an-original-thursday-poem/ […]
December 20, 2011 at 7:11 am
Poets Rally
Greetings:
Hope all is well.
Noting that you have been part of poets rally in the year of 2011,
what an achievement, thanks for your outstanding contribution to us
along the way, keep up the excellence. Best!
Come join our poetry rally today if you wish to mingle and get inspired!
A poem of your choice or a free verse is accepted.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Looking forward to seeing you share.
Respect and hugs.
xoxox
January 16, 2013 at 5:48 am
Bristo Zach Jiu
focused and powerful writing.