Love Poem: Bitter Only
Andrea Dietrich Avatar
Written by: Andrea Dietrich

Bitter Only

It was so long ago
true love I thought I knew
and it was lovely as a ruby rose.
Like Romeo and Juliet were we,
pledging our love forevermore.

But can a rose stay fresh and lovely
even when the weather 
continues bringing sun and rain?
And can the sweetest day
stay shining with no nightfall -
except in one’s memory?
Like a lovely rose, you vanished.
Unlike the rose, however,
you didn’t simply fade away.
Instead, you ran from me,
and unlike the sweetest day,
you did not even leave me with
 a twilight to gaze upon
as you fled away.

We’d called it a forever love,
but now I know
it was a withered rose
before it even started.
You vanished like the sweetest day,
but bitter only
is my memory of you.

October 19, 2022
for JCB Brul's Inspired By A Song - Once There Was A Love Poetry Contest