Rate:4.9 / 13 votes

No Longer yours to keep

Janet H Stafford 1959 (Derby)

July 22 
Rhymed
The sun lies hidden behind a cloud.
As I hide my bruises from the crowd.
I lay each night too afraid to sleep.
While you tell me I am yours to keep.
 
Days slip by into months and then years.
My cries of pain no one ever hears.
Too afraid to stay, yet no courage to leave.
Believing I deserve the blows I receive.
 
This hole I am in growing black and deep.
I wait to die, not be yours to keep.
One final cry for help, finally heard.
Screaming it load, without a single word.
 
A glimmer of light can now be seen,
No need to return from where I had been.
The hole no longer seeming quite so deep.
As I learn I am no longer yours to keep.
 
Scars and bruises both seen and unseen.
A lifetime of fears never quite wiped clean.
New life beginning, no further need to weep.
Knowing for sure I am not yours to keep.

About this poem

This poem describes what it is like to be in an abusive relationship and the freedom when you escape it

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Written on February 24, 2015

Submitted by Jasta on July 29, 2022

Modified on May 03, 2023

48 sec read
1,303

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABB XXCC BBDD EXBB EEBB
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 787
Words 163
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Full analysis for No Longer yours to keep »

Janet H Stafford

I spent most my life travelling from city to city and country to country as my father was in the forces i have always entertained myself writing poetry. more…

All Janet H Stafford poems | Janet H Stafford Books

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Discuss the poem No Longer yours to keep with the community...

13 Comments
  • luisestable1
    luisestable1
    This is one who saw the light. And, yes, many are in this position and one asks, "why do they not leave? This one did before it was to0 late..
    A sad story that has a happy ending.
    There is poetry in these lines. 
    LikeReply11 months ago
  • Kaileigh
    Kaileigh
    This is an excellent poem. I hope the author did not write this from experience.
    LikeReply12 months ago
  • Philipo
    Philipo
    Full of emotions.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • PlusNaija.com
    PlusNaija.com
    Nice
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • jerrylogie
    jerrylogie
    This is a GOOD poem, full of emotions, longings and pains. Well worded and delivered with good rhyme and flow. Excellent work!! I too had a first place in April if you care to read it.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • rnadc
    rnadc
    I hated this poem....but not because it isn't good.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • lovingempath
    lovingempath
    Wow...reading this a second time was a powerful experience. I think when people are reading so many poems at once; during the judging period...it's very hard to keep track. I enjoy going back with a little more leisure time to appreciate the depth of the submissions. Your poem is timely and full of powerful emotion. Congratulations Janet! :) 
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • RhymingVibes
    RhymingVibes
    Amazing use of words to sensitise, visualise and realise the emotions that the poet wants to express. Hats off...
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • robertrad2021
    robertrad2021
    Excellent.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • RayvnDarkwing
    RayvnDarkwing
    Vivid..Nice..
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Symmetry58
    Symmetry58
    You are an excellent writer/poet, Janet. This was deserving of the accolade.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
    • Jasta
      Jasta
      thank you ït was the first ţme I entered a poem in a contest
      LikeReply1 year ago
    • acronimous
      acronimous
      …
      and what an entrance it was ;-)
      LikeReply 11 year ago
  • larrymize
    larrymize
    Keep coming back to this one. Domestic violence is still a huge issue in this country.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • genevacuthrell
    genevacuthrell
    It was beautiful, like sonnet.
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"No Longer yours to keep" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/133651/no-longer-yours-to-keep>.

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