Updated date:

Oct 3, 2020

Ending a Relationship When Still in Love (Narrative Poetry)

Author:: Glenn Stok

Glenn Stok writes emotionally revealing stories to intrigue readers with enlightening observations as experiments with creative writing.

Introduction

The three poems below tell the story of a failed romance when still in love, and the attempts at working on the relationship with the intent of making it last.

The first poem is about how synchronicity brought us back together after a futile start, to grow closer once again, until the final departure.

When lovers are deeply involved, it’s difficult to see the forest for the trees, as the saying goes. However, once we are on the outside looking in, things become clear, as portrayed in the second poem.

Finally, the third poem reviews the mistakes with the clarity of being alone once again. I describe how we were working on the outer periphery of the relationship without concentrating on its inner core.

Synchronicity Brings Us Back Together

After a breakup for reasons unclear

Our paths once again cross, and I see my dear.

It was unexpected, with no thought involved.

But it opened communication for problems to be solved.

She told me she was leaving in a week to visit her family.

Without thinking, I offered a ride to the airport merrily.

We both agreed to enjoy the week before her departure

With no actual discussion and just some nurture.

We agreed that we’d talk a month later upon her return.

So we went with the flow and discovered much to learn.

We got to know each other more than before.

It's undoubtedly a feeling that may endure.

narrative-poetry-ending-relationship — Image courtesy Pixabay Public Domain CC0

A Challenging Relationship Drifts to an End

Unsure at first, then feelings develop

Craving for more and caring envelops

Attentive to her delicate cues although she may not have known

Accepting all differences and desiring a future sealed in stone

But she found one thing disparaging

and no longer was acknowledging

With a futile team effort, she wanted to be freed

Recognizing challenges and appreciating her need

Set free when requested only because of love

What more can I give with no sign from above

The past now cut off, leaving only fond memories

The future cut off too, without further discoveries

Only the present remains,

Heartbroken

Mistakes Made in a Doomed Relationship

What are we doing with this relationship?
Are we just here for the companionship?

Concentrating only on the periphery
leaves us eventually feeling jittery.

We haven’t focused on its inner core
although we’ve had a great rapport.

By avoiding what really mattered
we came to a state of feeling battered.

We missed out on developing a real experience
and bringing our relationship to actual deliverance.

If only we were able
to make our feelings stable

Knowing and understanding one another completely
would’ve helped discover mutual needs so sweetly.

Trust in the process
could’ve bound our hearts regardless.

That, I feel, is necessary to create a bond throughout
that cannot be broken by fear or by doubt.

narrative-poetry-breaking-up — Image courtesy Pixabay Public Domain CC0

Conclusion

A quote from Isaac Asimov best explains my experience with this relationship:

“In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate.”

— Isaac Asimov

Comments

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on May 15, 2019:

Brian Leekley - Thanks Brian. Poetry doesn't earn much from Google search traffic, but it's nice to be recognized for achievement.

Brian Leekley from Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA on May 15, 2019:

Congratulations, Glenn, on winning a HubPages award with these three poems.

manatita44 from london on April 18, 2019:

Congratulations!

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on April 18, 2019:

Miebakagh57 - You pointed out a very important aspect of liability—lack of trust. That’s a good way to look at it. Thank you for bringing that up.

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on April 18, 2019:

manatita44 - Thank you so much for your comment on my poems. Interesting that you mentioned it reading like a song. I actually did write lyrics for a romance song once.

Miebakagh57 on April 18, 2019:

Hello, Glenn, this poem reminds me of the legal maxim, a person you cannot trust is a liability. "Trust" matters much in any relationship. Its absence cause frictions. Therefore, trust is an essential ingredient for couples, friends, family members to understand one another and things. Your poem fulfills that essence. Thanks.

manatita44 from london on April 18, 2019:

Very beautiful piece. Reads lyrically, like a song or story-telling excellence. Great work!

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on April 08, 2019:

Thanks Jean. I agree with you that companionship isn’t enough when it’s not preserved with understanding.

Jean Bakula from New Jersey on April 06, 2019:

Lovely poems and valuable insights Glenn. Congrats on your win! I have similar issues, and sometimes think companionship is enough, but it really isn't. As you point out, the knowing and understanding isn't there.

Randy Godwin from Southern Georgia on April 04, 2019:

Congrats, Glenn! As I told Verlie, although I don't really understand the art of poetry--more a short story guy myself--I'm pleased my friends do. :)

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on April 04, 2019:

Glen, these poems do a great job of analyzing the demise of a relationship. Sometimes we have to be on the outside looking in to see the truth.

Great job and congrats on your win!

Suzie from Carson City on April 03, 2019:

"CONGRATULATIONS," Glenn! Wonderful job! Paula

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on April 03, 2019:

Thank you John, Dora, and Verlie, for your wonderful feedback on my poetry. It was a pleasant surprise to see that I won the contest.

Verlie Burroughs from Canada on April 03, 2019:

Glenn your narrative is heart tugging, engaging, and well structured. The rhyming couplets give a lot of strength to the story. I liked how you delved deep into reasons why the relationship ended without playing the blame game. That's so important. Congratulations on the poetry win! All the best.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on April 03, 2019:

Two years ago, I recognized this as good work. Congratulations on your contest win!

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on April 03, 2019:

Nice work on these poems Glenn and linking the different stages of the relationship. Congrats on being one of the winners in the contest too.

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on March 06, 2018:

Thanks, Kristen, for saying I’m a wiz of poetic words. Funny thing is that it only comes out of me when I feel deep emotion.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on March 06, 2018:

Great set of poems Glenn on how felt in a troubled relationship with such profound words. You're a wiz of poetic words.

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on May 18, 2016:

Thelma Alberts - Thanks Thelma.

Thelma Alberts from Germany and Philippines on May 18, 2016:

Beautiful! It´s hard to have an ending relationship. Thanks for sharing these awesome poetry.

Glenn Stok (author) from Long Island, NY on May 07, 2016:

FlourishAnyway - Thanks for your kind words.

FlourishAnyway from USA on May 07, 2016:

Break ups are difficult, and men often take them more worse than women. Especially when you don't understand why, it's hard. I'm sorry for your heartbreak.