Can't Win
Villanelle
“No, not this again.
You’re wrong and you don’t care.
I’m done.” // “Fighting, you can’t win,
`
so you just quit. When
Will you grow a pair?”
“No, not this again!
`
How typical of men.
Attack to avoid admitting error.”
“I’m done fighting. You can’t win,
`
but won’t lose -- yet pretend
that you're the martyr fighting fair!"
"No! Not ...” // "THIS again?
`
The tears? Typical of women --"
"I'm at breaking point, I swear.
I’m done fighting you." // "Can’t win
`
for losing, right?" // "That's how it's been.
This fight is all we share."
"No. Not this --" // "Again,
I’m done. Fighting ... we can’t win.”
~~
~~
[Author's Note: I initially published this poem while it was still an incomplete draft, so this is the *actual* final version. Thanks for reading.]
About the Creator
Sonia Heidi Unruh
I love: my husband and children; all who claim me as family or friend; the first bite of chocolate; the last blue before sunset; solving puzzles; stroking cats; finding myself by writing; losing myself in reading; the Creator who is love.
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Comments (7)
Particularly tough when both parties feel this way & neither wants to. Incredibly evocative & with the repetitive form of the villanelle, so thoroughly true to the sense of those never-ending fights no one wins (whether they think they did or not).
Wow, this was so powerful. Really felt your pain.
This actually hurt reading lol. If only because I have been that type of man in the past. So, you really nailed it. So when I say it hurt, it got me emotionally. Well done, Sonia. Always enjoy your work and this is another sterling example of your ingenuity (that formatting is great) and your flair for wordsmithery!
This seemed very accurate to the reality of how it is. Loved your poem!
Cool concept, Sonia! Is your final quatrain punctuated how you want it? and is it ( the format) viewing as you intend? It's very clever.
Great word play.
Great storytelling of a villanelle.