Comment from dragonpoet

Excellent

Hi Karen,
I like the artwork chosen for the poem. It shows that even though he was handsome on the outside, he was far from beautiful on the inside. The wolf head shows his meanness and slyness. Sometimes this is the sad truth of a relationship and when you discover it to be true, it is time to leave.
Hope this did ok in the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy.
Have a great rest of the day and week.
Joan

 Comment Written 08-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 08-Jan-2025

Thanks for the read. Sometimes it seems everyone but us is aware of wrong the person is. :-(

reply by dragonpoet on 08-Jan-2025

No problem, Karen. That is so true.
Joan

reply by the author on 09-Jan-2025

:-)

Comment from T B Botts

Excellent

Hello Karen,
as the saying goes, love is blind. We enter into a relationship expecting happily ever after, but it takes a lot of work on both parties. No one ever gets everything they want. If we all knew what the future held, we might never populate the earth. I've been fortunate enough that when I met Jan, I believed in the sanctity of marriage, and she's never given me a reason to stop believing.
Thanks for sharing gal.
Blessings,
Tom

 Comment Written 28-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 28-Dec-2024

A lot of people do into marraiges for all the wrong reasons. A lot of women see the guy as a fixer up, that they can mold into the perfect man. A lot of men go into marraiges thinking that she is perfect the way she is and he wishes her to stay exactly as she is now forever. They are both doomed to failure. Reality comes as quite the shock. HomeEc ought to be a requirement for both sexes. As should simple auto repair, and plumbing. Basic skills should be as important as poetry. Thanks for the read. Karen

reply by T B Botts on 01-Jan-2025

Hi Karen,
I so wish that Home-Ec was mandatory in all public schools. I like the idea of learning the basics to help a person get a leg up on life too. I guess check books are a thing of the past, but managing money should be taught. It might keep people from starting off life in debt. Happy New Year gal.

reply by the author on 01-Jan-2025

I agree. Looks like I won't be sending you books for a while. I can't even afford to pay attention at the moment. Have a good new Year. Karen

reply by T B Botts on 02-Jan-2025

No worries,
I've got lots of books to read, just need the energy to stay awake.

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

Your picture suggests you fell for the body, in spite of the wolfish head. Your poem is perfect to get across the point that sweet words do not make up for lying eyes.

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 28-Dec-2024

Sometimes even I, can get distracted by looks, and finely said words. He was a wolf inwolfs clothing.
Thanks for the read. Karen

Comment from kahpot

Excellent

Way to often the partner we choose turns out to be dressed in wolf's clothing, though I believe that love is worth the chase and chance, very well written and presented, best wishes for your contest****kahpot

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Thanks for the read. We go in believing love conquers all, and find out hard work is required. Some balk at this.:-)

Comment from karenina

Excellent

Is that a studly wolfman I see? Too often the "romance" stars do not align... We can try to stuff our foot into the "glass slipper" (metaphorically) but our hearts will end up with blisters! (Or his heart will!)

Karenina

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

This was true to life. He sold me a bill of goods. Problem was, I caught on as soon as I came off the RX. I saw who and what he was, And could not un-see it. Thanks for the read. Karen

reply by karenina on 27-Dec-2024

The good thing is that the relationship ended when it was evident there was no point in pretending it was what it wasn't. That's where a lot of couples make a mistake... (Square peg, round hole syndrome)

(wink)

reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Women do into a relationship, thinking they can change the man. Men go into it expecting the woman will stay exactly the same as she was when they were dating. Reality hits. They are both wrong. Divorce! :-)

reply by karenina on 27-Dec-2024

So true. Someone told me that when I married my first husband. I didn't listen. Surely my love would change him! (Spoiler alert: NOPE!)

reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

So, what did you eat for Christmas? I made the deviled eggs, so I ate a lot of them. They bought dressing so that was good. Tammy made meatloaf and potatoes. Tammy and I have lots of allergies. She cannot tolerate a lot of smells or spices. No onions are peppers. Me, I cannot have any pets. I cannot tolerate the outside of an animal but the insides are just fine. I cannot wear perfume on my skin, but I can mist my clothes, use air freshner, etc, Many things disagree with me, so I eat them with a care. I avoid milk chocolate, orange juice entirely. some things I eat rarely. But, Tammy thinks her meatloaf which is basically meat and ketchup is good, so she makes it often. It is edible. But no more than that. Her potatoes were potatoes and water with a pinch of salt. Barely gulpable. But we told her they were good and asked for to go boxes. She was all smiles. I did my good deed for the day.
We are learning how to work each other. I am so easy to get along with they should have no problem. Excuse me, I had to move over in case of the lightening strike! Love to you. Karen

reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Some folks just keep doing the same stuff and expecting a different outcome. You cannot change others. You can only change yourself. Some folks not intelligent like you and me, never learn this helpful hint! :-)

reply by karenina on 27-Dec-2024

You've got to brighten their days with your wit! (And your intelligence, btw)

We were much like you, sans delish deviled eggs.

Meatloaf, potatoes and broccoli and cheese casserole...which were preludes to the cheesecake I've been craving all week.

A good time was had by most. (There's always one cantankerous relative somewhere in the mix and I don't let it get to me anymore)

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. In a few short syllables you said a lot. I enjoyed reading and nodded. Good luck with the contest.

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Thanks for the read. The picture had been sitting in my files for a while. I was cleaning my stuff, Stuff I had not used, etc. I looked at this picture and thought, Metaphor! Holey Moley, It almost wrote itself! Karen

Comment from jim vecchio

Excellent

Hope this one is pure fiction. There are so many hypocritical and unworthy men in your stories and poems. You (or your protagonists) deserve better. When I told my wife I loved her, I meant it.

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Thanks for the read. You are much more handsome than I pictured. I love well kept facial hair on men.You look like your just road in from the stage , and you were the driver. That poem was straight on the mark. A true to life tale. I survived. I think he thought he loved me in the beginning. But he did not know what love is. I can tell you do. Are you good at cards or board games? I love you sweetie. Pray for my oil well to come in so I stop by for a visit. I can hire two helpers to drive us and wheel us everywhere you want to show me. It's a small scenario I play in my head when I am low. It perks me up. Karen

reply by jim vecchio on 28-Dec-2024

I never thought of myself as handsome, but thanks. My wife and I used to play Gin Rummy all the time. In college, it was poker.

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

As ever, Karen, a show-stopper! Wonderful visual, skilfully complemented with your succinct tale of romantic woe and an impression on the reader that you're best out of this one! Well done and good luck! Debbie

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Thanks for the read. I have had that picture for a while, it is so arresting. I could never figure out what to do with it. Then, viola! Metaphor! The poem poured out, no edits required. Nirvana! Karen

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

What? No red-headed gal to make me smile???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Thanks for the read. I save redheads for happy stuff. If she had hit him with a skillet at the end, then you would have seen one of my alter egos. :-)

Comment from Begin Again

Excellent

Words are hollow and can be twisted and manipulated to tell whatever story they want them to be.... it's shame that our hearts often fail to see the falsehoods when someone blinds us with words of love.
Smiles, Carol

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2024

Thanks for the read. He was a great spinner, but no follow through. After I gave up my Rx pills, the blinders came off, I saw the real him, and could not unsee it. Love really can blind us. Karen