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Previous Post
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Dec 14
poem
Thenbenhappened

Yarn Can't Stretch Well

You got accepted today.
A school you’ve
Dreamed of going to
Since day one.
A little place
In Oregon.
Your lips pulled back,
Like theatre drapes,
In a smile that was
Beaming.
You fiddled with your
Sweater sleeve in ecstasy,
Tugging at the loose yarn
At the fringe.
I grinned and pulled you
Into my arms.
I told you,
You deserved it,
And I spoke the truth.
But did I deserve this?
I’m selfish,
For no real good reason,
We’re not even
The best of friends.
But the thought,
Of all that space
Between us,
Snips at my heartstrings
Like the rusted pruning shears
In my mother’s shed.
We would make arbitrary promises
To keep in touch.
But I think we both knew,
Distance and time,
Would unravel us.
 
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Posted: 12.14.17
About the Author: Thenbenhappened
MSG / CONTACT
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RECENT COMMENTS
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Discussion

Comments

  1. semacdonald
    Dec 15, 2017

    the last three lines in this are my absolute favorite and carry a lot of weight. i love this. great job.

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  1. Thenbenhappened
    Dec 16, 2017

    Thank you Shannon!!!

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  1. jbird18
    Dec 16, 2017

    Congratulations on being writer of the month! What Susan wrote in the issue about you being born a storyteller and being a graceful and empathetic writer is entirely true. You've done it again, conveying the intricate human interactions and emotions.
    You say so much and form such a complete sense of the feeling of the speaker through the title and the extended metaphor of the yarn. I always love poems with good titles whose significance changes or comes into focus after reading the poem. This is one of those poems.

    It's a beautiful poem, and so eloquently written.
    I know what you're talking about-- this situation of knowing you won't stay in touch with someone and that distance and time will unravel the two of you. It really does feel like rusted pruning shears sniping at your heartstrings. What a great way to describe it.
    I feel like this is one of those poems I'll be holding close in the coming months as my friends and classmates disperse to college and beyond. Thanks for this.
    - Janet

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  1. Thenbenhappened
    Dec 17, 2017

    That was the nicest comment I think I've ever read, thank you so much!! :)

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