We called them moments—
breathless whispers,
trembling promises,
shivers of trust.
Yet our love
was marked
by a quiet violence—
each kiss a bruise,
each embrace a fracture,
each heartbeat
an invisible, silent wound.
Your touch became possession,
your words
sharpened into knives—
slowly slicing away
the man I thought I was,
leaving only this reflection
I no longer recognized,
an image imprisoned
in a mirror of your making.
So I became the serpent,
coiled and patient,
poison gathering
like bitter truth.
One final bite, a just dessert—
my parting gift
to set us both free.
I am what’s left
after the venom clears,
whole, unbitten,
finally free to forget
the taste of poison kisses.
Author’s Notes:
Contest Prompt:
Write a poem about love gone wrong or lost love. It can be sad, raw, or just plain angry (Just keep it clean). Express the emotions of the darker side of love. Any style or length. Be creative.
This is a free verse poem. Rhyming is not required.