Tag Archives: marriage

Spent Moments

Posted on 2017.02.21 by cjromb

Even now with years gone by since you and I were us, I catch myself freely spending so many of my precious moments deeply missing who I believed you were. I don’t know why this is, when I am, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Disregarded Matter

Posted on 2014.08.07 by cjromb

There are two kinds of people who don’t matter enough to themselves. One of them gives a whole heart away without regard to the cost. The other treats that person’s heart with the same disregard. What a pain-filled matter love … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, MM, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bird of Paradise

Posted on 2013.10.09 by cjromb

A bird of paradise solar-powered light was one of the first things I bought when I reclaimed my garden, a particularly painful place for me. For several years, I avoided it because it made my heart ache and caused me … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

I Matter

Posted on 2013.08.20 by cjromb

It only took me a minute or two on the 17th to write Existing. I suppose it was ready to be said without much hesitation. But after I was done, I waffled back and forth for quite awhile before and … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Existing

Posted on 2013.08.17 by cjromb

You treated me as if who I truly was didn’t exist so completely that who I truly was stopped existing when I was with you. When I left, you still treated me as if I didn’t exist so completely that … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Breathe Again

Posted on 2013.07.30 by cjromb

Listening to Breathe Again by Sara Bareilles took me right back to when I first walked away from him. I wasn’t so sure I’d ever breathe again without that deep seering pain, but I needed to leave so badly, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Should Have Known

Posted on 2013.05.16 by cjromb

He said “You should have known.” He’s right, you know. I should have known, because he should have told me. But now I know. I found out on my own. He should have known I would. ~ cj 2013.05.16 Bookmark … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Replaced in 12 Days

Posted on 2013.05.15 by cjromb

I planted a garden this year, taking another step in reclaiming the space my (now ex) husband and I used to share. I wanted to see something growing here. I longed to experience new life again, in a home where … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Essay | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Until Tomorrow, Whippoorwill

Posted on 2013.05.08 by cjromb

The whippoorwill trills over and over in the night lonely, looking waiting for her to call back to him. Sometimes he hears her and they sing for awhile. Sometimes he gives up and goes to sleep until tomorrow. We used … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Broken Mess

Posted on 2013.04.07 by cjromb

Some broken messes can be fixed with enough effort and the right kind of care. Salvaging them might take several attempts, use multiple skills, require new approaches. Often seeking outside advice is what makes the difference. But the satisfaction of … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Wanting To

Posted on 2013.04.07 by cjromb

No matter how much I understand it, I’ll never get it. I hope one day I’ll get over wanting to. ~ cj 2013.04.07 Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Your Shoes

Posted on 2013.03.20 by cjromb

I can’t imagine how you can stand in those shoes, how you can claim that they fit and spit shine them as if they were worthy of wearing. I can’t imagine even though I’ve been attempting for years to try … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Off The Shelf

Posted on 2013.03.20 by cjromb

This plant was green once, full of life and hope.  Long tendrils of healthy leaves clung to well-watered vines, draping over shelves full of books in this home he and I built together. When I watered it up on that … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Essay | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Torrential Rain

Posted on 2013.03.06 by cjromb

I tried to take care of you, even when your choices caused that torrential rain. But as it poured down, filling our streams, rushing over our road, I had to run harder than I’ve ever had to run, to save … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

I’d Rather Be Alone

Posted on 2013.03.04 by cjromb

I always said I’d rather be lonely alone, than lonely with someone else. For years, I was so lonely with him, I did everything I could to stay busy so I wouldn’t notice. Finally, two years ago, I walked away, … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

No Winners

Posted on 2013.03.04 by cjromb

Sometime in 1994 or 1995, my now soon-to-be ex and I were in counseling. We’d separated, because I needed to be understood, accepted, and loved for who I was, and that’s not how I felt. During the counseling, our therapist … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Essay | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

For The Rest of My Life

Posted on 2013.03.03 by cjromb

I will miss who I thought you were for the rest of my life. ~ cj 2013.03.03 Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Leap of Faith To Make Myself Happy

Posted on 2013.02.12 by cjromb

I worked on paperwork again last week, yesterday, today to get myself out of this long-dead marriage. How can there be so much of this? I was so proud of myself; I am so past being angry, I’m giving up … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

If You Died

Posted on 2013.02.04 by cjromb

If you died, I would dance for my life, for all the times you tried to kill who I was, when all I was trying to do when I was with you was dance for your love. ~ cj 2013.02.04 … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Complete Silence

Posted on 2013.02.01 by cjromb

Complete silence surrounds me, so loud I can hear your absence like a pin that hit the floor, and reverberated without warning, expanding quickly in my empty echo chamber, until it became a requiem filling a symphony hall, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Flush

Posted on 2013.01.31 by cjromb

I WISH all the mystery had been gone. The secrets I found you keeping were far worse than anything I could have imagined. And I would have given anything to be able to just flush them away. ~ cj 2013.01.31 … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Flush

Exposed

Posted on 2013.01.29 by cjromb

Twenty two years of seeing you naked and now that I know the truth, now that you’ve been exposed, I can’t remember what you look like naked. I can only remember how you looked to me, once I realized you’d … Continue reading →

Posted in 21 And Done, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tomorrow

Posted on 2012.06.15 by cjromb

Tomorrow is a sad one year anniversary for me. I made a choice because I couldn’t take the pain anymore. One year ago tomorrow was the day my husband and I stopped living together after more than 23 years. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Rocks You Left Behind

Posted on 2011.12.28 by cjromb

This is one of my first iPhoto/YouTube videos. 🙂 These are the rocks you left behind on the land that we both loved. The ones you can see are hardened and cold and heavy. The ones you can’t are too. … Continue reading →

Posted in Visual | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments