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Exit Wound

Katie Frances Hartless
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Silver rings wound round
two fingers, tightness lingers,
after many bobs
up and down;
our marriage is
a merry-go-round.

Laughter out on the town, then
the yelling just gets louder,
and the caking,
make-up powder
dries too soon;
hope it masks
the exit wound.

This poem was written for d’Verse’s MondayQuadrille. Tonight, Lillian asks us to consider, What’s in a word? crafting a 44-word poem using the word wound for inspiration. Join us.

Artwork: “Merry-go-round II” by Fabrice Hünd

40 responses to “Exit Wound”

  1. Photography314 Avatar
    Photography314

    Love the imagery and I feel that the art you chose works perfectly. Great job!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece as well as the art.

      Like

      Reply
  2. merrildsmith Avatar
    merrildsmith

    Wonderful image of a troubled marriage
    It makes me think of a movie we just streamed, The Killing of Two Lovers.
    I think that exit wound may be metaphorical or real.
    I like the artwork, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you very much. I will be sure to check the movie out. Sounds like something that I’d enjoy. Appreciate your comments.

      Like

      Reply
      1. merrildsmith Avatar
        merrildsmith

        You’re very welcome.

        Like

  3. lillian Avatar
    lillian

    Wow! So many layers to this. The illustration is perfect! Then the two rings….could be on the horses on the merry-go-round but also the couple’s wedding rings. The metaphor of the merry-go-round for a faltering marriage is an excellent one. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you very much Lillian. I enjoyed this double-meaning prompt, so thank you very much for hosting.

      Like

      Reply
  4. ben Alexander Avatar
    ben Alexander

    Wow, KH.

    Marriage is hard work… I understand this piece well.

    ❤
    David

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, David. Much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. rothpoetry Avatar
    rothpoetry

    The story of many relationships. Interesting that emotional scars also have exit wounds. Perhaps that is a good thing?!
    A great poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you kindly, Dwight. The exit wound was my first thought for this prompt, but it is very true, emotional scars take more time to heal, I think.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. rothpoetry Avatar
        rothpoetry

        Some never heal!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Helen Dehner Avatar
    Helen Dehner

    A wonderfully creative take on the challenge … cheers!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you very much, Helen. Cheers!

      Like

      Reply
  7. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    Wow! So powerful in so few lines. Great writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Tom. Very kind. Glad you enjoyed this brief ride.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. GraceoftheSun Avatar
    GraceoftheSun

    Loved the illustration, perfect partner to this excellent piece. Amazing!❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Grace. The artwork did happen to be just right. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. GraceoftheSun Avatar
        GraceoftheSun

        My pleasure.💕❤️

        Like

  9. Grace Avatar
    Grace

    This goes to the heart of it – masking that exit wound. Marriage is a merry go round indeed.

    Like

    Reply
  10. Ron. Avatar
    Ron.

    Exit wounds can be masked but almost never heal. Fine Quad, K.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Ron. Will keep powdering here.

      Like

      Reply
  11. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    I like the circus atmosphere you created with the rings and the carousel, the strong man putting on a show, and tears of a clown. Maybe one will end up pulling up stakes…. Great atmospheric piece and good choice of image to go with it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Oh, brilliant, Lisa. Thank you for reading and deepening this concept. Fantastic ideas.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        My pleasure, Karen.

        Like

  12. Arcadia Maria Avatar
    Arcadia Maria

    Well written poem about the reality of relationships.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you very much.

      Like

      Reply
  13. Ingrid Avatar
    Ingrid

    Ouch: this Merry-go-Round is dizzying to be on, and painful to get off. Such a skilful composition!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Ingrid. It’s a ride that attracts many but does often leave one wondering why they jumped on.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. RuthScribbles Avatar
    RuthScribbles

    wow! I feel this!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thanks, Ruth.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Misky Avatar
    Misky

    Absolutely superb. Each sentence is strung with tension.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you kindly, Misky. This one was a bit of a chisel, but the images arrived quickly for me.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Misky Avatar
        Misky

        It’s always quite satisfying when it comes together like that. Nicely done.

        Like

  16. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    This is a poem filled with contrasts, the contrasts between the lighthearted rhythm and the abuse and violence in the end… really good.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Björn. I think of a carousel as having that rhythm but then how it can be brutal, too.

      Like

      Reply
  17. sanaarizvi Avatar
    sanaarizvi

    There are so many layers of meaning to this gorgeously woven poem! I could feel the “Laughter out on the town, then the yelling just gets louder,”.. sigh.. that’s when trouble begins.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you for reading this. Yes, the highs and lows don’t feel good after the first few time around. Appreciate your feedback.

      Like

      Reply
  18. jazzytower Avatar
    jazzytower

    Everything is hard word. And sometimes even with that things fall apart. Well captured in your poem. Nice work.

    Pat

    Like

    Reply
  19. Masa Avatar
    Masa

    Applying one’s daily ritual to conceal an exit wound is… just powerfully evocative. I love the hidden strains of a long marriage, a merry-go-round of life. Good stuff, delicious.

    Like

    Reply

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Author

Written by

Katie Frances Hartless

K.F. Hartless (she/her) is a free-spirited fiction writer and word trapeze artist. When she’s not juggling her career as a literacy specialist, she’s preparing her latest death-defying act on the keys.

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