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Affairs of the Heart

There’s a pithy phrase attributed to T.S. Eliot: “Good poets borrow; great poets steal.” (He actually said something a bit different, and phrased it a bit more pompously – after all, this is T.S. Eliot we’re talking about). Nonetheless, our optional prompt for today (developed by Rachel McKibbens, who is well-known for her imaginative and inspiring prompts) plays on the idea of stealing. Today, I challenge you to write a non-apology for the things you’ve stolen. Maybe it’s something as small as your sister’s hairbrush (or maybe it was your sister’s boyfriend!) Regardless, I hope this sly prompt generates some provocative verse for you.

Do you think that I care?
When he asked me, not on dare,
if we could be boyfriend and girlfriend,
my first relationship, all the time we spend,
he was an answer to my prayer.

He used to be my friend's lover and bear,
until he got bored, what a dreadful affair-
yet, sometimes the hearts grow apart and end,
do you think

that karma is real and we pay our share?
Four months, the laughter and loving flair,
"I love you," flowers and sweet notes penned,
hours spend in each other's arms, a dead-end.
Yes, I should have cared.