Split Aparts (standard:poetry, 818 words)
Author: Lori	Added: Jul 05 2009	Views/Reads: 3317/1957	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Another challenge poem, this time from The Library on Multiply. Written from the perspective of a 12 year-old girl. Split Aparts are soul mates who have been "split apart."

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


"Child," says the turtle in my head, 

"you don't know of what you speak. 

You should be asleep in bed. 

There is no man of that description. 

I'm older than dirt and know 

not just the ways of the world, 

but also the direction the winds blow. 

What you hunt is a fantasy. 

A dream you need to awaken from. 

The thing you'll uncover 

is more heartache to come." 

~ 

"Not true," I mumble under my breath. 

"This is another cruel test. 

Haven't I had enough? 

I'm not impressed. 

The answer to the riddle 

lays in his breathless sigh. 

Then I'll be able to change 

into a beautiful butterfly. 

The puzzle is the question. 

Which one do I ask? 

Which is more important? 

Take off the mask? 

Or keep it hidden inside? 

Until we're joined together, 

not just our hearts, 

but also our souls forever?" 

~ 

"Sweetie," the turtle pleads, 

"no heart is ever true. 

Everyone has weeds. 

No one is perfect. 

Sometimes love isn't enough. 

You have to let go of the past. 

Learn to not sweat the small stuff. 

Be the best friend he's ever had. 

Concentrate on finding yourself. 

Teach yourself to be glad 

for what you have, instead 

of what you have not. 

If you must, be his life's bread. 

But don't count on being 

the center of his world. 

His life, also, isn't freeing." 

~ 

"He will have problems, 

this I understand and accept. 

My soul is older and wiser 

than that," the child inside me wept. 

"But love will conquer all, you'll see. 

I'll settle for any kind of life, 

wouldn't bother me to never 

carry his name or be his wife. 

You don't understand, Mr. Turtle. 

I love him indeed. 

He's going to be scared 

for this love to succeed. 

He's the other half of myself. 

He lives and breaths the same 

as you and I. 

This isn't a silly child's game. 

I know he'll drive me crazy. 

He's certain I'm alive and well. 

He doesn't know who I am. 

But, in his heart, I already dwell." 

~ 

"You're setting yourself up 

for a difficult fall," the turtle sounds. 

"You drink from love's death cup. 

Yet, I do understand. 

This form isn't how I began. 

Long ago, I, too, 

was once a man. 

I crawled into a hole 

and locked open doors. 

Hide from emotions 

the same as yours. 

My heart turned to glass, 

protected by walls of stone. 

Woke one day with a shell on my back, 

and found myself all alone." 

~ 

"I'm sorry, Mr. Turtle" 

I said in a honest voice. 

"Now you realize why 

I've made this choice. 

I can't let evil win. 

I have to keep fighting. 

Even when the big, bad world 

throws up things uninviting. 

Some day, I don't know when, 

he'll find me broken and bruised. 

My soul will be dead. 

My heart confused. 

He'll waken with his love. 

Bring out the goodness in me. 

Both of us will come alive, 

and shout in joyous jubilee. 

He won't be a prince or a knight in disguise. 

He'll simply be himself in every way. 

Yet, through our love, 

we'll be carried away." 

~ 

"Go in peace, precious child." 

The turtle kisses my forehead. 

"Promise not to be too wild." 

~ 

"I won't," I laugh at him. 

"Thank you for the advice. 

I've heard all you've said. 

And I'll learn to think twice." 

~ 

The turtle disappeared from sight. 

Now it's simply me and 

a gorgeous starry night. 

My heart is lightened 

by new thoughts and dreams. 

I won't deny the tough roads ahead. 

Nights filled by depression's screams. 

But there'll come a day. 

When I meet the turtle again. 

He'll be in the shape of a man. 

When I do, life will finally begin. 

© June 27, 2009 by Lori


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