The Wound Gaping Wide Poem by Charles Chaim Wax
The Wound Gaping Wide
I sat in Meng’s weary, waiting
dusk long since descended
nightfall now master of the sky
with wind blown snow
swirling chaos into perfection.
And finally Mabel Muldoon trudged in
with eight children from her belly
aching for the return of daddy
who got caught robbing a liquor store
so he could buy Christmas presents
worthy of Mr. Michael Muldoon.
Now Mabel sold herself
to raise bail, but unable to succeed.
Not because she wasn’t good-looking
but would only lie there
weary, waiting until lust unraveled.
Al Hoppe went with Mabel
but her sadness and his sadness
shut down desire.
“Thirty years of whores, Bernstein, ” he said
staring hard at me with “I’m finished.”
Mabel plopped at my table.
“Empty streets, ” she sighed.
“A night like this, ” I said.
“Cold.”
“Cold.”
And I wiped the wetness from her cheeks.
“Wish I had a million dollars.”
And I wished for words.
Sometimes life is just surviving moving with numb flat automaton responses. Its sadness touches the heart touches the spirit a beginning of compassion in the reader. A poem filled with heart and compassion.
Bernstein's such a darling, Charles. And the story he relates, so saddening, especially in the final 2 lines. I love your characters, Charles, as I always tell you. They're so real. Warm regards, Gina.
I 've always enjoyed your pieces, but I really like what appears to me to be a new style for you. This poem is magnificent. j.
Wonderful ending, in particular, indeed.... tragedy finely expressed.
This is excellent and life is so cruel sometimes Charles, I identified with her to the degree of single parenthood and what a mother should and should not do for her kids. I stood on the line and peered over, but never quite stepped over thus far, but I have thought about the possibilities of what what I could/would or should be prepared to sacrifice. I have been lucky so far and soon I will be past it! lol 10 from Tai
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/3/2024 4:24:55 AM # 1.0.0.1119
A really great ending, I really enjoyed this.