Until the Last Page
Love will not let you forget
your broken heart or spare
you the pain of tearing
yourself into a puzzle.
When romance sheds its skin,
truth can emerge ugly
or with such beauty
the spirit is speechless.
There is risk in vulnerable,
to open a soul’s diary
to be read by a stranger.
I have been burnt by passion,
frozen with goodbye, and tepid
with numbness, but no matter
how infertile the soil, I’ve grown.
If I were an open book, I’d tell
you all my secrets, but be assured
I never will … I can reveal when
it reaches its final page the words
will be, “I never gave up on love.”
©Susie Clevenger 2026
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Oh Susie, how I love this poem. Especially "no matter how infertile the soil, I've grown" and those heroic closing lines.
ReplyDeleteBeing torn into a puzzle is a creative descriptor of pain we rarely can put into words so succinctly.
ReplyDeleteI never gave up on love. A sacred wisdom as we just learn in love as well or maybe especially in love. Beautifully written
ReplyDeleteEvery word is carved out of truth and all the sweetness and ache coming along with it. The world needs to hear this “I never gave up on love.” again and again.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I identify with the continued process of growth in whatever life and love's circumstances. That firm closing declaration is the best one to have, I believe.
ReplyDeleteit reaches its final page the words
ReplyDeletewill be, “I never gave up on love.”
A grand close Susie! Whatever happens there is always a silver lining in matters of love. Why? It's because it involves 2 hearts in an emotional relationship which will be settled amicably in time.
Hank
A wise and honest write - and I am glad too that the last line was one of hope - Jae
ReplyDeleteI love your closing lines here, Susie! They are brave and pull you forward.
ReplyDelete