Ergo, the Ogre

A large, sprawling oak tree with thick branches covered in green moss, surrounded by lush greenery in a natural setting.

It’s Poetics Tuesday over at the dVerse Poets Pub. Our host, Mish has given us the task of selecting one of the movie quotes listed above and incorporate it into a poem of any style.

I’ve chosen, “I wish I knew how to quit you” – Brokeback Mountain, 2005 –

I wish I knew how to quit you.

You’re like an addiction

I don’t want to kick —

a safety net with a gaping hole

a life raft decorated

with shark bait.

My head says run! Go!

But my heart says

Stay. Stay.

And my love for you

rages like wildfire

begging to be put out.

But the only fire hose

is knotted and kinked.

O, please, please show mercy!

If you ever cared:

Quit me.

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Ergo, the Ogre

Susan Marie Shuman is an author and freelance writer/editor who currently resides in the wilds of Birmingham, AL. She shares her life with two spoiled cats, several friends (not all of them imaginary) and one husband. When she’s not working, Susan enjoys horseback riding, reading, taking her cats for a spin in their pet stroller, and taking naps. An ex-bartender, recovering crash test dummy, and all-around late bloomer, Susan graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2004 with a BA in English. She minored in Russian. Long-range goals include visiting Israel, the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein. Susan is also planning to launch a micronation which would be called either Suzannistan or Eastern Suzanorovia.

14 responses to “Quitter”

  1. The Clue | A Villanelle – The Abject Muse

    […] wish I knew how to quit […]

    Reply
  2. purplepeninportland Avatar
    purplepeninportland

    Love this, Susan. The passion and desperation is palpable.

    Reply
    1. The Abject Muse Avatar
      The Abject Muse

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  3. Ingrid Avatar
    Ingrid

    I love it! We were thinking along the same lines. Love how you concluded your poem because you’re absolutely right. Love is a stubborn addiction :-)

    Reply
    1. The Abject Muse Avatar
      The Abject Muse

      Thank you, Ingrid. :-)

      Reply
  4. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    Been there done that and you’re so right, the kindest thing for the object of addiction is to walk away!

    Reply
    1. The Abject Muse Avatar
      The Abject Muse

      So hard to do though. So hard!

      Reply
  5. Helen Dehner Avatar
    Helen Dehner

    I fell in love with this film …. your poem used that line perfectly. Good job.

    Reply
    1. The Abject Muse Avatar
      The Abject Muse

      Thank you, Helen. I really need to see the film. I just went with what little I new about it.

      Reply
  6. Mish Avatar
    Mish

    I can feel the strength of the attraction with the imagery you offered here.
    Love the way you flipped it at the end….’Quit me”

    Reply
    1. The Abject Muse Avatar
      The Abject Muse

      Thank you, Mish!

      Reply
  7. rothpoetry Avatar
    rothpoetry

    A great poem of anguish! Well done.

    Reply
    1. The Abject Muse Avatar
      The Abject Muse

      Much appreciated, Mr. Roth. :-)

      Reply
      1. rothpoetry Avatar
        rothpoetry

        You are welcome! and … you can call me Dwight I left Mr. Roth Behind when I quit teaching school many years ago! :>)

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