Waking, shaking in the
Soon-to-be-sister-in-law's bed
Words resonating in
Her head, chest
"DO NOT MARRY HIM"
Heart thumping
Tongue thick
Lips tucked tight
Flight imminent
Then
Ignorant of calamity
Door opens and her betrothed
Shoots a smile of delight
Her brain stomps
The rebel edict
Lips curl, automatic
Faux happy
And her gut churns acid disgust
Days and weeks the battle
Ensues, heart beating
The brain, until the ace
Is drawn and played
"No one else will love you."
Chills her through
And she succumbs
White-dressed and smiling
She says "I do"
And four years later,
"I won't"
Lessons learned
The hard way through
Heart knows what
The brain don't
And the amygdala lies, too
PS Happy ending--listened to Heart, found soulmate--married 24 years, 2 wonderful sons and an amazing stepdaughter, plus Max the Wonderdog who chases my latest mistake (never should have fed the ducks, but that's another poem)
From the "Mistake" prompt at poetryjaam.blogspot.com, would have liked to have written a poem that went along with Sinatra's words-- "Mistakes, I've had a few, but then again too few to mention..." but that would have been a mistake...