Artist unknown (would love to credit). Photo taken on campus Australian National University, Canberra 2017.
I was twenty-six by the time I finally met him she introduced the man who took my place I know now she’ll never forget him I’m not even in the race so the last two years have been wasted since I was twenty-four I’ve grieved and sulked and mooched about waiting for another chance with her I was sure he was a loser maybe even someone like me someone just employed to amuse her just the way I was employed it’s now easy to see I loved her so much I fucked it up I let her keep me dangling on a string because she always hated to be on her own I never realised she was just using and then this other guy suddenly came on the scene I don’t even know where they met I was sure it wouldn’t last I’d just bide my time she’d drop him and forget but he’s actually a lovely guy polite confident and interested with a very handsome face I'll never be the man he is for her I'm so far off the pace and I hate the dude all over again because he reflects my humiliated disgrace
Ain’t that just the worst? I’ve been in this situation before (several times) 🫣
Each time, the “dangling on a string” got shorter. No time for fence sitters anymore. Life is too short.
A piece that resonated, Sean. Great stuff.
If your writing partner is also your romantic partner, I assume you learnt and landed in just the right place with just the right person. I imagine writing together requires special relationship.
So many questions are raised when engaging with this delightful community of writers. It is good to be reminded that supposition is not an admirable trait when you know so little about the people behind the writing. Nonetheless, your reply gave me a smile and a chuckle. I was so far off the mark that it gave you a laugh as well.
Oh, so well-written, Sean! It is so hard to accept that the other person has moved on and found someone better. That acceptance at the end of the verse, makes this exceptional.
You are very kind Punam. I don’t actually know where I got this story from, but it felt like a good one as I was writing it. I like the acceptance too, even if it has faux hate attached (he doesn’t really mean it).
poetography.ink 
Lots of epiphanies, Sean, none of them easy to face 😦
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Ain’t that just the worst? I’ve been in this situation before (several times) 🫣
Each time, the “dangling on a string” got shorter. No time for fence sitters anymore. Life is too short.
A piece that resonated, Sean. Great stuff.
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If your writing partner is also your romantic partner, I assume you learnt and landed in just the right place with just the right person. I imagine writing together requires special relationship.
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God, I wish it were so. She was temperamental.. and artistic. But not a writer, lol
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So many questions are raised when engaging with this delightful community of writers. It is good to be reminded that supposition is not an admirable trait when you know so little about the people behind the writing. Nonetheless, your reply gave me a smile and a chuckle. I was so far off the mark that it gave you a laugh as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, so well-written, Sean! It is so hard to accept that the other person has moved on and found someone better. That acceptance at the end of the verse, makes this exceptional.
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You are very kind Punam. I don’t actually know where I got this story from, but it felt like a good one as I was writing it. I like the acceptance too, even if it has faux hate attached (he doesn’t really mean it).
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