Seven Years On — A Breakup Poem #PoetryFriday

Poetry Friday logo by Linda Mitchell

Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

Hello, friends, and Happy 2024! I’m starting the year with lots of hopes and plans to share more kinds of poetry, to make more time for writing poetry, and to spend less time on business and promotion stuff. It’s just dragging me down.

Here’s a poem I wrote recently. I’ve been writing more poems for adults lately. I still love children’s writing best! But I’m going to give myself permission to share my poems, even the ones that aren’t for kids and that aren’t very happy. Please note: I often won’t be explaining the poems–you make half the meaning yourself, right? But I’ll just say here, this is NOT about my marriage or any personal relationship. It was inspired by a frustrating business situation. And then it morphed into a poem that sounds like a breakup poem. And that’s okay. My heart IS broken, but not in the way this poem will probably sound to a stranger who reads it. :>)

And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with librarian-author Marcie Flinchum Atkins. I can’t wait to see what she’s kicking off the year with. Besides writing wonderful books, she also is amazing at sharing her goals and plans and systems. I love her approach to these things!

17 Responses

  1. Laura I love the connection between breaking making a person strong. You are resilient, this biz is tough, and yay for sharing your works for older readers! (This could totally be YA, yes?) xo

  2. Such a powerfully strong poem, I feel the seething and heartache in there, and the movement forward, your graphic image adds to all. Thanks for sharing and here’s to more writing/creative time this year!

  3. Laura, I feel your heartbreak, but I like your attitude! You are sweeping up and moving on and not letting it define you. Well done on so many levels!

  4. Laura! Seven Years On sings like a country-music ballad! I’m excited to read your adult poems. Blessings for a calmer, healthier, happier new year!

  5. Laura- your poem grabbed my heart. I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through this past year. I can relate to so much in this post. I’ve been dealing with something, and I’m not sure how it will play out. I’m pushing myself to be brave and look for the positives. On another note, I agree that your poem sounds like a song. When I was growing up, I dreamed of being a songwriter, but I can’t sing a lick. : ) I’ve been writing more poems for adults lately too.Sometimes I feel like I hold back in the poems I write for children. I don’t know why. Hang in there, my friend. You are a wonderful, kind, generous person who deserves all good things. Sending hugs for a better 2024!

  6. I’ll say it again: Powerful. And this poem is so different from the ones you usually share publicly. Interesting to see this other side of your writing.

  7. oooopf! That sounds cathartic…which is good. There are a lot of feelings in this poem that all of us can relate to. Moving on should be it’s own genre!

  8. This poem is sharp and painful, as I can imagine the situation was. I hope you are moving on and that writing helps. In the form I like the way you set the chorus on the right margin. Were the constraints you made on yourself with form (rhyme, etc.) helpful in getting it out? I find form helps me when emotions are charged. Thanks for sharing.

    1. I think that’s a good point, Margaret! Yes, the constraints were helpful. When I free wrote / pre wrote, it was a long rant. Having a bit of form and some constraints helped me wrangle it into something more cohesive and readable. Thank you for saying that. It seems obvious now, but I hadn’t had that conscious realization. :>)

  9. Oh, you’ve got me feeling the pain in this situation! I agree, it does sound like a break-up poem (I’m picturing Taylor Swift singing it) and it’s so interesting to read something so different from you. You are so versatile! I’m sorry the tough business situation occurred. Hugs!

  10. Laura, I am sorry that you had this happen to you. I feel your pain and frustration. Powerful. Great refrain! Writing is therapeutic. Lines I love:
    we were making
    sparkling creation
    is shattered and bleeding and broken

    waited too long
    maybe the breaking
    is what makes me strong

    pieces are scattered
    all over the floor
    I’m sweeping you out and closing the door (You go, Laura!) Great image and ending. I think this reads like a YA verse novel. I am rooting for your MC. Have you ever thought about writing a verse novel? (I love verse novels.) I’m glad you’re writing for older and adult readers. Thank you for sharing. I hope you’re feeling better. Cheers for a happy new year.

    1. Thanks, Gail. Writing is indeed therapeutic! Even though the situations in many of my adult poems are morphed through metaphor or purposeful changes, the emotion runs true. I worked on a verse novel for many, many years. Finally abandoned it for my own sanity. I just don’t really enjoy wrapping my head around writing longer, more complex stories…

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,547 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."