Welcome to another writer’s quote/poem Wednesday, where I share some of my favourite poems written by other authors. I have always loved the quote above my Maya Angelou and try to keep it at the back of my mind, always. It also goes with today’s poem, which is a narrative by Ernest Hilbert that runs on the simple theme that – love is blinding to some.
The main character is someone who should have ended up going to jail at the end of the poem, but rather, he was headed to the altar to get hitched. Like the last line said, “don’t try to understand what another person means by love”.
Here’s the poem below.
Domestic Situation by Ernest Hilbert
Maybe you’ve heard about this. Maybe not.
A man came home and chucked his girlfriend’s cat
In the wood chipper. This really happened.
Dinner wasn’t ready on time. A lot
Of other little things went wrong. He spat
On her father, who came out when he learned
About it. He also broke her pinky,
Stole her checks, and got her sister pregnant.
But she stood by him, stood strong, through it all,
Because she loved him. She loved him, you see.
She actually said that, and then she went
And married him. She felt some unique call.
Don’t try to understand what another
Person means by love. Don’t even bother.
This poem is chilling. Many of us spend too much time judging and not enough trying to understand another’s situation. How did she get in that relationship in the first place? Why does she feel so loyal to him? I wish the poem was longer so I could learn more about the couple!
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It is! So many questions thus poem has evoked, my! This reminds me why I love poetry 😄
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A heart chilling work of art, Ameena. A great post.
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Loved it sister ❤ sometimes the best in life is to not judge!
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Thank you very much Sana sis. How have you been?
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I am fine my sis ! was away from blogging for a while, back now 🙂
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The line saying that it felt like a calling is so accurate. I was in an abusive relationship, and instead of looking at myself as a victim, I thought it was my duty to stand next to this man and try to help him. The mind frame that abusers put their victims into is so difficult to understand if you haven’t been there.
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