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LITERARY NOOK
T.O.A.S.T.: Tender Old Age Sonnet Tales
Undercarriage of an Unhappy Marriage
“Cruel Man! I am not blind, your infidelity I find;
Your want of Love, my Ruin shows,
My broken Heart, your broken Vows.”
—Elizabeth Thomas (1675 – 1731)
Ain’t that the living truth,
ain’t that the loving proof
paint it on heaven’s roof,
ain’t that the folly of youth
you experience pleasure at my pain
and more pleasure when you read
of my love lost and your gain
though my love you sometimes need
our tumultuous turmoil may in time obtain
unlike Adam and Eve there is no original sin
but ultimately love that soothes and entertains
us as a couple, a sweet place to begin
still married at least, our sexuality buried
no more wanton, no more beauty or beast.
A Slight Touch of Pain
“If this be love… My pleasures horror. Music tragic notes.
Tears in mine eyes and sorrow in my heart.”
—Samuel Daniel (1562 – 1619)
A slight touch of sadistic pain she had
in her frequent bad moods yet very wise
her intuition sometimes good sometimes bad
often caught me unawares and by surprise
her love often took some wrong turns
she would smile and laugh but somehow
would forget how her negativity burns
and I slowly healing can not forget it now
hurtful hateful words close loves door
between her and me a brain strain pain
that has been shut many times before
Oh that we could calmly work it out
and lose the pettiness, pain, and pout.
Joey ‘Pepe Batbon’ Connolly (Special to the Saipan Tribune)
Joey aka Pepe Batbon is a retired educator who taught in the CNMI, NOLA, and LVNV. He is a sonnet practitioner who enjoys stargazing.
