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002 (7/1/03) My Friend Tanya

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Poetry from 2000-2003

 

My Friend Tanya

by Elizabeth Van Cleve (July 1, 2003)

 

When she couldn’t talk to him

She wrote him letters

letters in a notebook

on top of his dresser

 

When she felt happy

She wrote him letters

letters in a notebook

He never opened

 

When she felt sad

She wrote him letters

When she felt lonely 

or scared

 

When she was pregnant

he said he was busy

she got out the notebook

and wrote him letters

 

The notebook filled

She began another

She’d found a new friend

She told him in letters

 

He erased her phone messages

tore up her mail 

watched TV, read some books

but never letters

 

She wrote to him

prayed for him

told their son

his daddy loved him

 

In letters, she praised him

In letters, she dreamed

In letters, he never read

She never complained

 

Author's Notes/Comments: 

Written July 1, 2003
I often think of Tanya and wonder where she is now.  I knew her such a short time.  She is someone I've never forgotten.  I met her in a laundermat.  We were both pregnant.  I'd left my husband who told me he didn't want our baby.  I tried not to get sick each time I thought of his words, "I don't love you like I once did," but I couldn't help it.  I thought I'd die of dehydration if I stayed, so I left for the baby's sake.  Tanya was my friend.  When my husband said, "Please come home," I did.  I wrote Tanya letters.  They were sent back with the words, Not Here.  I got letters from Tanya asking why I didn't write.  I tried again and again.  All came back. She stopped writing me letters.  I wondered if she kept writing to him.

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last updated 22 January 2014 - 1:05pm
©1 July 2003 - 2:39pm — classicliz
16 March 2014 - 4:57pm — a.griffiths57
a.griffiths57's picture

    The heartache in this

 

 

The heartache in this poem is very apparant - what a dreadfull occurrance, to have your love and unborn spurrned by your lover. I hope things have improved for you, some people don't know when they are well off and can be so uncecessary rejectionable. An interesting thoughtfull poem.

 

 

http://www.postpoems.org/authours/a.griffiths57

18 March 2009 - 9:28pm — Afzal Shauq (not verified)
Afzal Shauq's picture

love the logics expressed in this poem with a good idea.. I went through few of your poems and loved them too..you are good poetess and hope you never stop writing and add more poems.. this poem is good and love it..hope you like my poems too.. and let me know if they also touch your heart.. I am basically a peace wisher poet with 6 books published... I am a peace dreamer, love-based peace promoter... hope you be with me... let me share here one of my own famous say with you... ( a friendly smile is the best weapon of war to fight with..afzal shauq