Better Half of Me

Wow... I'm speechless. The first stanza captivated me right away.

I ache with his silence,
feeling
love that burns
in his heart.

^^ so beautifully painted...

It's killing me
to watch him
waste away,
he remains
wordless, shielding
me from
reality.

^^ I feel like many people can relate to this part. You want to be there for someone and help them, but it hurts to watch them not fight for their lives.

It's a growing
festation of torture.

^^ This part emphasizes how difficult it is for you to sit by and not help this person get the help or treatment they need.

I've become numb
to the knowledge
of death,
allowing it to evaporate
with a smudge of sage,
it lingers in my thoughts
daily.

^^ Wow this part really moved me. I can relate to this part, because even though I accept death and I know we all will die eventually.. the thought of losing someone you love is terrifying... and it's just the worst to experience.

Death I do not fear-
it's the fear of
being separated
from the better
half of me.

^^ The ending was flawless. I like how you said you don't fear death, and how you really only fear losing your better half. It was such a simple ending yet so powerful! I love that you used the term "better half of me" - it was just perfect here.

Such a beautiful and sad poem... really loved it!

Such a deep and touching poem Maple, and you know me, as much as I like your beautiful cheerful nature poems, I do admire your gift for penning your raw emotions.

The opening of this is very powerful, to open it with the silence, which makes you ache. To know that the love inside of your better half, is so powerful and strong for you, that they feel they have to protect you from their own pain. It shows the relationship well, and how he feels the best thing to do sometimes is put on a brave face for his love.

The word "shielding" is very effective, it remains that way throughout the whole poem, getting that image of both characters wanting to shelter each other from any pain in the world, this is what real love should be like, regardless of situation.

You make your voice heard in this poem, that you are struggling with this truth, this reality that has become your life. You cannot imagine being without this person, therefor to watch them suffer, and be helpless, is basically killing any strength you have inside of you.

I relate to this poem, and it really stays with me. Your title says it all really, your soul mate is not simply another person, they are the other half of the person you are. You feel incomplete without them.

I hope writing your pain, and sharing it, gives you some sort of comfort. <3

The feeling is mutual, dear. I just wish I could do something other than cough up generic words.

<3

So beautiful... I hope you're both okay for now. Words are excessive when commenting this poem, because it speaks for itself. And the reality of it is too real to comment from far-away. But know this, Andrea, my heart bleeds with you.