Poem: "No-Good Lovers"
This poem came out of the February 4, 2014 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from Anthony Barrette. It has been sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette.
No-Good Lovers
The love of money
is not so much addiction
as it is affection,
a toxic relationship
between no-good lovers
who can't leave well enough alone.
Money is the bad girlfriend
who demands all the time and attention,
who craves fancy dresses and fine dining,
who believes that diamonds are a girl's best friend,
who turns heads everywhere she goes.
Money is the bad boyfriend
who stays out late in shady neighborhoods,
who spends the rent on rough booze,
who likes motorcycles and leather jackets,
who makes people step out of his way.
There is something desirable about danger,
something magnetic and compelling
that draws you in and holds you close,
even though you should know better.
It seems like you can never do anything right --
relationships full of unwritten rules,
paperwork comprised of obscure lines and spaces.
Everything is about them, never about you --
the unending honey-do list
and nosy questions about your paycheck.
You feel uncomfortable being yourself --
pretending to enjoy what they like,
nevermind your preference for yard sales.
Sometimes money leans so close
it makes you shiver, hot breath in your ear,
but no matter how much you fight,
you always come back to each other,
because when it's no good, it's awful,
but the make-up sex is just so good.
* * *
Notes:
Money is often compared to an addiction, but I loved the idea of reframing it as a bad relationship.
A toxic relationship is one that does more harm than good. Know how to end a rotten relationship and get over it. Recognize what makes a bad boyfriend or bad girlfriend.
Think about your relationship with money. Is it healthy or unhealthy? Your can improve your relationship with money.