He Tows the Party Line

He tows the party line
so hard now
I expect to see rope burns
in hands that held me.

So hard now
his gestures of hate
in hands that held me —
how blind was I?

His gestures of hate
he holds so firmly  —
how blind was I?
Those hands I loved.

He holds so firmly
I expect to see rope burns;
those hands I loved…
he tows the party line.

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A pantoum poem ©2024 Jen Payne. If you like this poem, you can read similar in my books and zines, available from Three Chairs Publishing on my ETSY SHOP. They come autographed, with gratitude and a small gift.