National Poetry Month 2020 Day 9: “I Should Thank You” & “And how”

WARNING: I lied yesterday when I said today’s content would be clean. I do use profanity in my
poem, below. So if you’re not into that, avoid it. But the poem is about heartbreak, and there’s
no blunting the pain, grieving, and anger of that. I love all sorts of poetry, especially that which
celebrates the glorious and divine in life, falling in love, relationships, witty humor but also humanity,
tragedy. Life can get rough and dark, and therefore so must poetry. But hopefully back to lighter fare
tomorrow.

However, my first poem of the day is by Arnold Kentop, another author I met at Wordstock. It describes
a certain kind of stinging relationship and separation that just hits me.

I Should Thank You

By Arnold Kentop

If we’re no longer friends, it’s no one’s fault,

Although I thought you were among the few.

Your clear perception of reality

Was what I needed, yet it would assault

My dignity, respect I felt was due.

Where others held me dear you held for me

A mirror of contempt, a cold device

That mocked the personality I prided.

I should thank you. Because of you I saw

That unchecked virtue had become a vice

The veniality that you despised

Is true and I admit that shameful flaw.

You’ve taught your lesson well, but have I learned

It’s best to leave such kindness unreturned?

I started writing the following poem in 2018, and the chorus came to me as a song, the rhythm following
me everywhere I went. It’s raw and contains adult language.

And how

By Blythe Stephens

Ya never were a piece of shit before

But you sure are now (2, 3, 4)

Ya never would have made my heart this sore

But you have and how (2, 3, 4)

Ya never would have lied and put me down

Low blows, damn wow (2, 3, 4)

Broke my heart, spit and stomped it too

You fucking cow! (2, 3, 4)

Every moment we were together you 

were the apple of my eye

You broke my heart and break my heart again

Every time you lie

The thought of you and her together now 

makes me want to die

For the death of our dreamed future

I cry

Ya never were a piece of shit before

But you sure are now (2, 3, 4)

Ya never would have made my heart this sore

But you have and how (2, 3, 4)

Ya never would have lied and put me down

Low blows, damn wow (2, 3, 4)

Broke my heart, spit and stomped it too

So sorry, ow (2, 3, 4)

The way you’re acting simply makes no sense 

Except to say that you’re mad

You’re in a dark place, lost, for sure

And that is deeply sad

Picked myself up, made a whole new start

And for the growth I’m glad

But what a blast, a storm, a shock,  

Were these times that we had

Ya never were a piece of shit before

But you sure are now (2, 3, 4)

Ya never would have made my heart this sore

But you have and how (2, 3, 4)

Ya never would have lied and put me down

Low blows, damn wow (2, 3, 4)

Broke my heart, spit and stomped it too

Over it now! (2, 3, 4)