Is it her scar that you love
or her?
Your therapist’s question
gnaws at you
like you gnaw at that knob
on the inside of your cheek
that you love and
so painfully cultivate
I hate it when he asks questions like that.
He’s usually right.
Why do you love her scar?
Because it keeps her from being
something perfect
Because if she is imperfect
then it makes my scars
less
Interrogate
Hesitate
Congratulate
Dangerous questions —
the gnaw
on the inside
of your being
that you
so painfully cultivate
Knowing the truth
of your answers
you rush west
when she
flees east,
you sally north
when she souths,
parlay when she folds
Lovest thou me?
Lovest thou my imperfection?
Lovest that it legalizes thine?
© Jilly’s All Rights Reserved
Day 21 / She & He #19
Jilly's 
the last line of the haiku.
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I see it now – makes more sense.
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… but I wonder if His compassion, empathy, isn’t sacrificed here?
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It is, isn’t it? In all of this series, I am exploring the complexity and the frailty of human nature. For She & He to survive, they must both be flawed and virtuous; loved and hated. The vulnerability of transparency is the only thing that lets us have intimacy at the level that we crave.
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True.
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Yes indeed. And “you sally north when she souths” is perfect. Agree with Petru on the Haiku!
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The crux of the matter in that last line – a glimpse of something too, too true.
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This poem unravels more of your He. Both of your characters are vibrantly drawn. I love the faint, near echo — the way the internal voice plays against the poet’s voice. The form is beautifully unconventional. Disjointed, like the man who’s just come from his therapist.
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Glad that part came through. Staying always in 2nd person is a tough challenge.
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Whatever does not kill us…. 🙂
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I was going to write something earlier today, but then had to leave before I could leave a comment. I’ve forgotten now what brilliant remark I wanted to make. And I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine. 😉 I do like how you are so invested in these two that you actually are involved in his therapy session. I agree with the others about that final stanza.
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Ah yes, you remind me that it is time to pour! Thanks for that and for reading!
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You’re welcome. L’Chaim!
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You’ve drawn me into your series, Jilly. For some reason, this is my favorite so far…maybe how it exposes the thoughts, motives of He.
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Aw! Thank you, Lynn. You make my day 🙂
I think this is my personal fav for the same reasons. I kept thinking – ‘too much honesty.’ But there it is; a truth of human nature. Glad you are along for the ride.
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