So sweet the love
so bitter the break up
the heart-shaped
watch
you bought me
to confirm our relationship
I now hand back
(having no time for it)
& you try to hand it back
& I give it back
& you give it back
& so on
back & forth until
you throw it
on the ground
& in a temper tantrum
grind your stiletto
into it
as if
you were
trying to stamp it out
all the love
you put into it
this the gift
of you.
The watch pleads
for its life
in useless tick tocks
& unlike
my heart
remains unbroken
steadfast to the last.
You pick it up
& drive off
in a fury.
I cry the tears
I couldn’t cry
with you
...without you.
They blur the sky
stain it until it runs
into sunset.
A seagull blown inland
observes all this
&
laughs.
Dónall Dempsey
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/so-sweet-the-love/
