Toxic People

Posted on September 10, 2022 by purplepeninportland 
Written for:  Friday Writings #43:  Toxic Love

"Write poetry inspired by the concept of "toxic love".


There are intelligent women
whose heads get to spinnin'
when a strong personality man
captivates them, they extend their hand
only to discover his need
to control her every opinion, deed,
and sometimes even her appearance–
all without asking for clearance.
Her reluctance to marry makes him coax
her ceaselessly with master strokes.
She relents, swept along for the haul.
Suddenly personality man stalls.
He cheats on her; he tells her it's over.
She is stunned.  Was he merely a poser?
In time she sees he'd stolen her essence.
She regains herself, finds she has substance.

https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/

About purplepeninportland

I am a freelance poet, born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. I live with my husband, John, and two charming rescue dogs–Marion Miller and Murphy. We spent eight lovely years in Portland, OR, but are now back in New York. My goal is to create and share poetry with others who write, or simply enjoy reading poetry. I hope to touch a nerve in you, and feel your sparks as well.
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19 Responses to Toxic People

  1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade says:
    September 10, 2022 at 3:55 am

    I know several women to whom this has happened. Thankfully they have recovered their substance, but it has been a long, hard, painful road for some. You’ve described it accurately.

    Like

  2. Debi says:
    September 10, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    I’ve known a couple of those men. But survival and thriving afterwards was a sweet revenge.

    Like

  3. VJ says:
    September 10, 2022 at 1:45 pm

    All too common a tale.

    Like

  4. Helen says:
    September 10, 2022 at 2:07 pm

    Thousands upon thousands of ladies will relate to this poem, Sara!! Well done.

    Like

  5. Magaly Guerrero says:
    September 10, 2022 at 4:39 pm

    It’s very sad, isn’t it? How often these happens. I’ve found myself saying, “But how could such an intelligent individual failed to see what was happening?” Love can be very obtuse.

    Like

  6. Su-sieee! Mac says:
    September 10, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    Some people simply need to obtain and control who challenges them then spit them out once the manipulators got what they want, the creeps. I’m glad she found herself!

    Like

  7. Kestril Trueseeker says:
    September 11, 2022 at 12:25 am

    I dodged that particular type of bullet, but I’ve seen way too many friends fall into those traps. It’s amazing how love can make fools of us sometimes.

    Like

  8. Priscilla King says:
    September 14, 2022 at 3:37 am

    Sometimes I think the only way for women to stay out of this particular trap is to be willing to ignore the peer pressure.

    “You’re STILL SINGLE! What are you DOING WRONG?”

    (She’s doing right–not deluding herself that kissing toads will turn them into princes.)

    “Your standards are IMPOSSIBLY high! You’ll NEVER find anyone like THAT!”

    (If her standards don’t include “under age 25,” never say never!)

    “ALL guys are clueless, insensitive, bossy, lazy slobs who don’t get the point of jokes and leave the bathroom filthy.”

    (Possibly true for “guys” but what use does a woman have for half-grown “guys”? In Dave Barry terms, she’s waiting for a Real Man.)

    I had school friends who’d been divorced two or three times before my first and only marriage. It was worth waiting.

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