Over and Over

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Over and over,

I walk into the flames

without ever venturing a toe

to test the heat.

Over and over, I forget

the smell of scorched flesh,

and judge my memory of pain past

to be a creation of my own making.

Over and over, I vow

this time it will be different,

I will be different,

you will be different.

Over and over, I discover

the fire is just as searing,

and my burned spirit

just as painful.

Over and over, I realize

everything is the same and

think that this time,

it’s time to say goodbye.

And over and over,

I do it all again,

over and over

and over.

~ ~ ~

Claude Lopez-Ginisty, who writes at le courtil des poèmes, sent me the following translation of Over and Over into French. I've always said that everything sounds better in French.

Merci, Monsieur! I am honored that you did this. I reads so beautifully that I'm almost unable to believe those are my words.

Encore et encore,
je marche dans les flammes
sans jamais y aventurer un orteil
pour tester la chaleur,

Encore et encore, j'oublie
l'odeur de la chair grillée,
et j'estime que le souvenir de ma douleur
est une création de mon imagination.

Encore et encore, je fais le vœu
que cette fois ce sera différent,
je serai différente,
tu seras différent.

Encore et encore, je découvre
que le feu cautérise tout autant,
et mon esprit brûlé
est semblablement douloureux.

Encore et encore, je réalise
que tout est pareil et
je pense que cette fois,
il est temps de dire au revoir.

Et encore et encore,
je le refais,
encore et encore, et encore.

***

Written for Carry On Tuesday, where the prompt is “Time To Say Goodbye.”