You played me like a slinky
Stretching my coils back and forth…
Knowing I would always spring back.
But now the time has come.
I’ve been stretched to the limit;
No longer do I have that smooth flow…
Always a perfect fit from hand to hand.
Instead, I am pulled out of shape…
Hung out to bounce in the wind.
Still a little spring left in me;
But, I will never be the same.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Posting this today for open link night at d’Verse Poets Pub
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
Roth Poetry 
This is really heart-breaking and poignant.
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Yes it is. Thank you so much! I am glad it connected!
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Great metaphor!
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Thanks Liz!
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You’re welcome, Dwight!
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I forgot about that childhood toy. Your use of it as an analogy is not play or fun, but it is a powerful one. Enjoy your Poet’s Pub.
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Thank you very much Michele. Very sad situation to be in for sure. The Pub does get a little overwhelming when you have over forty posts in one evening! Can’t begin to read them all.
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You are welcome. 🌻 Oh wow, yes that would be a bit much! Happy reading!
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Okay…reading as it is with the illustration…it’s the slinky on the birdfeeder to the chagrin of squirrels who want some food!
But metaphorically, it’s the love affair and the damage done. Such an excellent metaphor!
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Thank you so much Lillian for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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Oh … I’ve definitely lost my spring too .. !!
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Ha ha it happens!! Thanks Ivor!
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I loved the last two lines very much. 🙏
This is so heart-breakingly beautiful ❤️
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Thank you, I am so glad you enjoyed it!
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Dwight,
This extended (pardon the pun) analogy works great as the story of the slinky in the photo and a misused lover. Poignantly expressed for both cases! Clever decoration for the bird feeder, btw.
pax,
dora
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It is to discourage squirrels, but they just leap from the ground or deck and hang on. Thank you Love the pun!
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Cool analogy. I once wrote about being a Styrofoam cup with a bite taken out.
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Ha ha That sounds painful as well! No fixing that! Thanks for your comment.
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yep, my slinky-like-love-life has seen better days too, really liked this, very well written
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Thank you very much Phillip! Mine too!
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Nicely done (and damn those squirrels).
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Thank you!! You are right!
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Reading this made me feel sad, sometimes we can only be stretched so far.
I’ve been stretched to the limit;
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I am sorry it made you sad. The slinky is just like we are… we can only take so much! Thank you for reading!
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Cool image and poem! Once that slinky spring is worn out it never does fully rebound! 💕
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Just like use! :>) Thank you Tricia!
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Too good 💫
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Thank you so much!
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In this VERY moment I’m the slinky. Very relatable 😢 you wrote what I now feel.
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I am sorry to hear that! Hope you can work out whatever is happening!
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A fun metaphor for an unhappy ending to a relationship. (I remember playing with a slinky as a kid.) The photo is the perfect match.
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Thank you so much Ali! We all get stretched out of shape as we get older!
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Superb analogy! And genius transformation ❤️👍
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Thank you very much!
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This superb metaphor can work re leaving a relationship, or simply getting old 🙂
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Yes, we do know about the last one!! Thanks Derrick!
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Everyone has their elastic limit, as you so deftly delineated it here. Great poem Dwight!
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Thank you Ingrid!
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Excellent metaphor and quite relatable!
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I am hearing a thunderous “BOIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGG” and loving this poem.
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Ha ha! Maybe just a bing or two now!! Thanks!
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I put oil or Vaseline on my hook. I’ll have to remember this.
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Nothing seems to keep them away!
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Time and torment certainly stretch the spring out of us Dwight— I hear you loud and clear, or at least I can still hear you my friend… 😉
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Thank you Rob! We all run into people like this in our life. And yes it is loud and clear!! :>)
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Woow
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Thank you!
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What a perfect and clever interpretation of that inspiring photo! ❤
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Thank you very much!
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omg I feel this. Laughing (through my pain) over here.
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Thank you so much! I am glad you connected with it!
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this was so good Dwight.. truly We all get stretched to our limits… you look like you have a good pep in your step as you always spring into action. 💖👏👏👏👏👏👏
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I have not thought of those slinky thingys in a long time… but they could only take so much I remember.
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:>)
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The last two lines were intense. This depresses me considering how similar the life of a spring and humans are. I really wish ageing wasn’t a thing. Such a poignant, intense and bittersweet poem (a bit sweet too, considering the time when the spring was fully functional and made someone’s day.) Loved the comparison in this poem. It’s wildly melancholic. I hope you’re well 🙏🤍🤍
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Thank you for you concern! I am doing fine… well and healthy. But eventually our day will come! No use worrying about it.
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