Love Poem: Neglected
Elena Welsh Avatar
Written by: Elena Welsh

Neglected

I hear her breathing behind me, following me in
s i l e n c e
Her face remains unseen
But I’m learning to know her regardless 
I know she’s been neglected 
I know she’s starving
I know she’s passionate 
She feels the exquisite nature in everything 
even the chains that keep her in my shadow 
even me, who cruelly shackled her
She shuffles in my stead, 
Her breathing rasps, 
but as I know her better she begins to 
s i n g
The mournful song of the neglected, 
the beautiful song of the hopeful 
And I turn to embrace her
-she looks like me
with pure, white, unseeing eyes- 
And we collapse in tears 
finally 
after so many years of neglect
I know her again
I see her again