“Been shooting in the dark too long
When something’s not right, it’s wrong” – Bob Dylan
Sometimes arrows miss their mark:
the paper heart I sent to you
was crumpled into damp tissue
and never lit that spark
Sometimes arrows miss their mark:
love does not always love itself,
sends selfish cards left on the shelf
to gather dust in dark
Sometimes arrows miss their mark:
and we don’t value things that come too easily
cynical, we pretend sincerity
it’s better not to light that kind of spark
Sometimes arrows miss their mark
completely, and we miss the point:
for love that’s scorned is love that’s out of joint
abandoned in the dark
Sometimes arrows miss their mark
until one day we score a direct hit
and realise, without regret
‘It is the star to every wand’ring bark’*
© 2022 experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
*Shakespeare, Sonnet 116
Written for dVerse
Tonight, Sarah hosts Poetics on the day after Valentine’s Day:
Tonight, I’d like you to write a poem about the Valentines that didn’t happen. The lost loves, the ones that didn’t work out: the holiday romance whose number you lost; the girl you chatted with on a train who was travelling to meet her fiancé; the guy who seemed perfect, but stood you up.
I wrote about a few instances – and hope I didn’t cheat with the final stanza!
If you enjoyed this poem, please consider supporting my work by buying my book, 40 Poems at 40!
I love the repetitions.. it works so well and I think sooner or later one arrow will hit, but what do we know of all those near misses?
Exactly! Thanks Björn.
Nice end caps, Dylan and Ol Bill. I like the lyrical quality to your poem, Ingrid.
I love the repetitions and the rhyme scheme in this, Ingrid. It’s bittersweet – and then suddenly it’s sweet! Very nicely constructed.
I really enjoyed your central conceit and how you hit your final target in the line from the bard’s sonnet, aptly done!
So nicely constructed, yes, with repetitive rhythem that gives rise to dufferent feelings, different emotions, each time the line comes back. The flow is one that carries, like a current…wonderful poetry Ingrid..
Oh Ingrid am sorry about typos…
Don’t worry!
Will be more careful. I get a bit dreamy after reading good poetry.
😊
Thank you, Ain, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
this evokes so much emotion and hit just the right amount of hope at the end. Love the nod to Shakespeare as well!
Thank you Tricia 💖
Always a pleasure! 💖
The repetitions are indicative of the searching. I could feel this one!
Thanks Susan!
Love this especially; “Sometimes arrows miss their mark: love does not always love itself, sends selfish cards left on the shelf to gather dust in dark.” Poignantly done 💝💝
Glad you enjoyed this, Sanaa! 💖
The repetition works so well and I think the ending is great.
Thank you 🙏
I love the refrain in each verse: Sometimes arrows miss their mark. This one is filled with regrets.
sometimes they do
sometimes its often than we anticipate
True indeed!
Thank you Grace, I tried to examine both regrets and hopes!
Beautiful poem, Ingrid! I love the form, though I don’t know what it is. The rhymes are charming, and the last verse ends the poem on a positive note. Not all matches are “made in Heaven,” but some are. <3
It wasn’t a particular form: a ‘lyrical ballad’ maybe ❤️
Wow, i love this one, Ingrid! Cupid needs target practice, i think…
I think so 💘
right on point Ingrid and I loved it! such a great sonnet!! 💖💖👏👏👏
💘💖😊 thank you Cindy!
Always!!❤️💕
The repeated lines are lovely. Didn’t think tge end would be a bulls eye.
Nice one
Much love…
Thank you Gillena 💖
Masterfully delivered work, Ingrid. And anybody who closes with Uncle William is aces in my book! Thanks!
He always comes in handy when I’m stuck for a line 😅 thanks Ron!
“love does not always love itself’ Isn’t that the truth.
Yes, and this causes a hell of a lot of problems!
Practice makes perfect. (K)
So they say…
Beautiful, Ingrid! It is that one that matters most. Love this.
Thank you Jeff 🙏
I loved the repetition so much!! The word Intenion comes to mind in response to your poem. What’s the point if we miss the point. Might as well be intentional in what we aim for.
Absolutely! Thank you 😊
I think the final stanza blessed all the preceding. Love is so accidental and fleeting that when it finally and lastingly lands, all the prior wandering makes sense.
Indeed, Brendan: no suffering is in vain, ultimately.
This was stunning Ingrid❣
Thank you Ishita 💜
Still a dream for some of us Ingrid. But a beautiful one still.
There’s no harm in dreaming 😊
I like the repetition, and then the finally stanza.Yes! All those missed arrows–and yet, we really don’t know if they would have come to anything anyway, do we? 💙
I kind of doubt they would…thanks Merril! 😊
You’re welcome, Ingrid!
Sometimes arrows miss their mark and then hit another that was never intended! Lovely poem, Ingrid, the rhythm and the sentiment 🙂
Thanks Sunra 😊
What a sweet far-reaching poem! I love the ending too. 💕🌼💕
Thank you Lamittan! 🙏
You’re most welcome, Ingrid dear. 💕 🙏
Ah a great read,and a sweet one too,I must say! 🙂
Thank you 😊
Sometimes, indeed, the arrow goes astray. A neatly-devised and well-rhymed piece, Ingrid.
Thank you! 😊
Nicely done. Everyone cannot ot.aim. I wrote about that but didn’t post it. Because You did!
Thank you Mary 🙏
Beautifully constructed. The repetition, the rhyming scheme (especially the near rhymes), and the evocation of loss.
Thank you Xan 🙏
Beautifully done ingrid. Love the repetition to drive home the intensity of how hard it is to find a lasting meaningful love.
Thanks Dwight!
you are welcome!
“sometimes arrows miss their mark”
‘Love does not always love itself’ … perfect.👌 It can be attraction or gratitude. I liked your poetry and picture as well, dear Ingrid! ❤️
Thank you so much Jane 😊
Welcome, dear Ingrid! ❤️
“Pretend sincerity” that speaks volumes. The older I get the more I am aware of it
Cupid’s arrows never go waste…practice makes one perfect! Love the repetition and the positive ending, with a nod to the bard. ❤️
Thank you Punam ❤️
Superb poem Ingrid.
xoxo
Thank you Gabriela 💘