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The Bridge MAG

April 15, 2008
By Alison Green SILVER, Kensington, California
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Alison Green SILVER, Kensington, California
5 articles 0 photos 0 comments
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I was
in the process
of striking a match
to burn your bridge
when everything seemed to unravel
and the floor fell out from beneath me
I landed
with a thud
in the past
and suddenly I was hungry, lonely, desperate again
my hands shook with instability
and you were nowhere to be found.
I tiptoed backward a little farther
and the crooked, jagged edges smoothed themselves out
the bitterness was diluted until it was nothing
but a sharp aftertaste
and you were there
I felt you kiss my damp cheeks, nose, eyes
I felt you kiss every place a tear had fallen
I remembered the gentleness of your love
the warmth that had bathed us both
when we were together
but the thing about warmth is
it fades
leaving a chill that can’t be shaken off.
I shiver as I am pushed back
onto my feet and into the present
the flame has died down and the match is charred
I reach for another and
stop
because I realize
slowly and calmly
that I am not ready.

© Hailey J., Lake Oswego, OR

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 17 comments.

Iamwhoiam17 GOLD said...
on Apr. 3 2015 at 2:47 am
Iamwhoiam17 GOLD, Lake City Fl, Florida
10 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
Just be yourself,if you are happy that&#039;s all that matter&#039;s.

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I love this poem. Beautifully written! It is amazing! :) Please take and rate my poetry,I will appreciate it.
Megan said...
on Apr. 5 2013 at 10:10 pm
I read this in an issue of teen ink, and it is by far my favorite poem ever. 
Ulikdis77 BRONZE said...
on Nov. 4 2011 at 4:00 pm
Ulikdis77 BRONZE, Springboro, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
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I.Love.It!
WriterGirl08 PLATINUM said...
on Nov. 4 2011 at 7:19 am
WriterGirl08 PLATINUM, Ghaziabad, Other
30 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
In my mind, I can climb intricate scaffolds of words to reach the highest ceiling of the cathedral and paint my thoughts. But when I open my mouth, it all collapses.<br /> - Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies

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Wow, this is brilliantly written. I loved every single line, every word you've used, and how the poem really flows off the tongue perfectly in rythm :)
silentlyspoken BRONZE said...
on Apr. 8 2011 at 11:06 pm
silentlyspoken BRONZE, Wentzville, Missouri
1 article 0 photos 7 comments
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"striking a match
to burn your bridge"

Beautiful line.  Beautiful poem,  I love the flawless methaphorical travel.  Great job!

ashleyn PLATINUM said...
on Jan. 5 2011 at 5:04 pm
ashleyn PLATINUM, Zeeland, Michigan
39 articles 2 photos 64 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Don&#039;t take life to seriously, nobody makes it out alive anyways&quot;-Unknown

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i love this. so beautiful and lyrical yet it hurtsm because I completely know where you're coming from.
LunaLives GOLD said...
on Nov. 21 2010 at 2:23 pm
LunaLives GOLD, South Bend, Indiana
17 articles 0 photos 237 comments

Favorite Quote:
Because I can!-Me &quot;Life is a choice and death is a decision&quot;-Lil Wayne

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It really is a beutiful peice of work.
SmileitsCaroline said...
on May. 7 2010 at 11:53 pm
same as Dazed..I completely get this. it hurts. beautiful work.
Dazed PLATINUM said...
on Nov. 26 2009 at 10:57 pm
Dazed PLATINUM, Teaneck, New Jersey
20 articles 7 photos 107 comments
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i get this so much u have no idea.. incredible
Zakiametoo GOLD said...
on Apr. 4 2009 at 9:12 pm
Zakiametoo GOLD, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
15 articles 0 photos 5 comments
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Wow. I really like this poem. Yopur flow and imagery was very powerful and smooth. I saw and felt everything you wrote. Someone commented that is is not a poem, that it is a short story, and I must disagree. I think this is one of the best examples of a poem not having to be rhymed or stuck in a strict format. I think what matters most is the flow and I think you've accomplished that. Great! Keep writing!
lonelylover SILVER said...
on Feb. 21 2009 at 11:32 pm
lonelylover SILVER, Abilene, Texas
5 articles 0 photos 2 comments
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oh my god...i can really relate to this poem. its hard to move on when you love someone and they tell you its over.
JustDance said...
on Jan. 3 2009 at 3:17 am
wow this is such an incredible poem y far one of the best I have read!! good work keep writing this is amazing!! I love how you were able to express your feelings about it so that I felt like I had experienceed it, or could relate :)
D.S r0cK3r said...
on Dec. 16 2008 at 3:24 pm
Its pure Awsomness
musiclover 71 said...
on Dec. 15 2008 at 11:55 pm
this is awesomely amazing.
Beelovely said...
on Nov. 30 2008 at 12:50 am
Wow, this is an amzing poem. The techniques used to convey the ideas are great.



I can empathize with the feelings.

Very well done. :)
mwafflehouse15 said...
on Nov. 29 2008 at 4:36 pm
Very well thought out, but what you have written is called a "short story." A poem has a rhyme, or rather a rhythem. I could find neither, but none the less, it was well thought out with a deep mind :).......Keep it up!...write poetry that flows like the river :)
sarahw said...
on Nov. 10 2008 at 3:59 pm
this is incredible, and one of the best pieces i have read. it is profound and expresses a lot of things i have felt before. it is beautiful, eloquent, and simply amazing. keep up the awesome work and dont stop writing :)