On Winning and Hate by Gabriela Marie Milton – poetic prose – short prose -prose poem

Amazon Bestseller, bestselling author, Gabriela Marie Milton, poetry, prose poem, short prose 2 Minutes

The afternoon smelled of brick; I used to scratch the wall with my knees and nails on my way to the sea.

My blood stained my socks and fed the roots of the orange tree Mama planted one spring before my seventh birthday. Soon after, the tree grew blood oranges.

I used to dream I would reach the port before crickets would serenade the white cement between the bricks, and the evening wind would sew the wounds from the face of the wall.

I needed a God to lead me to the sea. In Mama’s stories, there were too many Gods leading souls to heaven. I did not want to go to heaven. I wanted to go to the sea.

I used to fail.  I did not understand what failure is. The next afternoon, little ducks embroidered on the rim of my blue dress, I would start climbing the wall again.

One day I thought I would get to the port and run straight into the sea.

Little did I know that the day would come when I would first look into your eyes. The sea inside your eyes is like laundry left to dry on a wire. Long red poles floundered left and right like the wings of a moribund bird. The body of a boat eroded by salt, and by the kisses of the women of your past agonized in green and blue.

Your eyes: on the right, your love for me, and on the left, your hate for the world. 

Did I say your love for me? You see, over time, I had to reconsider that formulation. Your feelings resembled more a never-ending animal magnetism than love.

Let me make one thing clear. No one person is sufficient to drive all demons from another one. You can think of Goethe’s elective affinities if you wish. I cannot save you from you. You need to help me.  I can carry this conversation into the night and win.

Ah, winning! The day I understood I can win, I stepped into hell.

That day was the day I lost my innocence and, with that, paradise. Since then, my blood has never stained my socks. The orange tree has never grown red-fleshed oranges, and Mama stopped telling stories.

featured image: Gabriela Marie Milton, Greece.

My books (Only English)
#1 Amazon bestseller, Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Women: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis)

Thank you to all my followers who reviewed my books.
Please read other reviews here:

Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton in Portland Book Review
Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton in Manhattan Book Review
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings in San Francisco by Gabriela Marie Milton in San Francisco Book Review
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings by Gabriela Marie Milton In Manhattan Book Reviews

Christina Schwarz, the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Drowning Ruth.”

“With lush language and lavish imagery, Gabriela Marie Milton. evokes a fantastic world ripe with emotion.”
Christina Schwartz

Edited Collections:
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Hidden in Childhood (Literary Revelations)
#1 Amazon bestseller,Petals of Haiku (Literary Revelations)
#1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (EIF)

Published by Gabriela Marie Milton

Gabriela Marie Milton #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, 2019 Author of the Year at Spillwords Press NYC; internationally published poet; poetry collections Woman: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis Pres, July 27, 2021); Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis Press, April, 2020)

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42 thoughts on “On Winning and Hate by Gabriela Marie Milton – poetic prose – short prose -prose poem”

    1. Thank you so much my wonderful friend. I have a lot of work to do today and your beautiful words are like a balm on my soul. Thank you again 🙏🥰🌹❤️

      Reply

    1. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful comment dear David. I am so glad you enjoyed the piece. Wishing you a beautiful evening 🥰

      Reply

    1. My goodness, thank you from the bottom of my heart 🌹❤️🙂 I am humbled by your words 🥰

      Reply

  14. We are, always, trying to, save someone we loved dearly, knowing deep down we couldn’t, we weren’t, supposed to, but, we still, keep, trying to do so, and, that’s how, we all get, stuck!

    Reply

  15. Gab, about that book, can we talk about it some time soon? Even if you don’t have time or aren’t interested, I’m ok with that. I mean it. I’d just want to know, whatever the outcome, so that, if it’s not meant to be, I can submit elsewhere. I don’t like simultaneous submissions. Hope you understand.

    Reply

    1. I know, hon. Your work is exceptional, and you made me think a lot. I promise I will write tonight.

      Reply

      1. Speaking of which, I have a couple of other journals in mind, but I would really love it to submit this very one to Literary Revelations.
        Will be waiting…You can also reach out on X.
        @BoyaETC

  16. Brilliant.

    Really like this: ” I needed a God to lead me to the sea. In Mama’s stories, there were too many Gods leading souls to heaven. I did not want to go to heaven. I wanted to go to the sea”

    Reply

    1. Thank you from my heart. I am glad you enjoyed that passage 🙏🌹❤️🌷

      Reply

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