The Ties That Bind
February 27, 2014
knots in my stomach when the car door shuts
I drop my dishes in the sink and scurry to my room
before his mood makes an appearance
knots jerked free
with endless strokes through hair
tousled from another sleepless night
knot after knot slipped slowly down threads
of green and black and burgundy and grey
friendships tied together on a wrist
a knot of guilt in my chest
sulking in the back pew
praying to God his eyes don’t land on me
double knots pulled tight in worn Keds
before running after the boys
always after; never with
a satin knot in the bow at my back
cinching my Sunday dress
like a noose
knots of anger in my every fiber
so much destroyed for so little return
so many decisions that dismantled our home
before it was ever complete
20 Comments
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Danielle La Paglia 
Poignant, intimate, and well observed. Welcome back, Danni. 🙂
Thanks, TJ. It’s good to be back. 🙂
I’ve missed your fic. Such a bittersweet mix of images!
And I’ve missed posting. Thanks for commenting!
Powerful imagery. Wow. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Thanks so much, Ian. It feels good to be sharing again.
Very sad, but so well done.
Thank you, Catherine.
Oh man, it’s the specific detail of the Keds that brings the piece forward. Another sad existence begging for deliverance. It’s the sort of thing that keeps reminding me to try to be a better person.
Welcome back, Danni!
Thank you very much, John. I’m it feels good to be back.
my kind of writing where you take a simple image, that of a knot, and then twist and examine it from every angle and facet. This is literally a taut knot of knottedness! Welcome back
Thank you, Marc. I attended a writing workshop last weekend called “Writing from Place and Identity.” We were challenged to write something repeating a word or phrase that has been constant in our lives. It was good therapy. Untying the knottyness one line at a time.
Outstanding imagery here Dani! I particularly like “friendships tied together on a wrist”.
So great to have you back!
Thank you, Deanna! I sure have missed this.
The bow in the church dress is what “tied” it together for me. Sooooo good to have you back!
Thanks, Larry!
A powerful piece Dani, She is certainly living a tormented existence.
Nice to see you posting Dani, I hope all is good with you. 🙂
Wonderful use of the knot as a recurrent image!
Ah it’s the knots that screw you up, very well written Danni, very visual and yet a little sad.
I am deeply touched by these “ties that bind”. Each one expressing a different pain in the binding. The visuals gave me a window into the soul of the person and left me wondering if there was any hope of a binding tie that would bring joy and overcome the ache the others left behind. Wonderfully expressed, friend. I too am glad you are back.