Bad Boyfriends
She has a chain
Each link is a loser
A long line of operators
Each with a rose
a bottle of perfume
or a bottle of tequila in hand
Whatever recipe would pique her interest
Showing up at dusk and
never leaving the apartment til dawn
Leaving her behind
in an bed littered with condom wrappers
and empty bottles
and a stinky bong
She decided to build a hedge fence
to protect herself against
this parade of clowns
But in the end, she clawed her way out
Forgiving, yet forgetting the essential lesson:
Trace first the path to your own happiness
and if you find another who walks the same path
there you will find love
She has a chain
Each link is a loser
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For The Sunday Whirl: Link, Recipe, Operator, Fence, Essentials, Chain, Rose, Forgiven, Dusk, Pencil, Empty, Trace.
Also at two favorite sites: Poets United and Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
What great opening and closing lines, Amy! Sounds like song material as well as poetry! 🙂
kaykuala
The never-ending story! Some are lucky to be wanted with the fondest affections. While some yearn to be wanted with the fondest affections. To each his own. Hoping no one gets hurt terribly!. Nicely written, Amy!
Hank
vivinfrance
Sad story, excellently written. I agree this has the feel of one of your songs.
Carol Steel
I like this. Life in its realities and hard won wisdoms. With some humor thrown in. Wonderful.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Carol. Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere! A
Laurie Kolp
I’m glad the lesson was learned… and she’s all the more grateful for that love and true happiness, too.
Have a great vacation, Amy.
Sarav
Trace that path of happiness! I love the analogy of chain and links of losers–you always paint such potent pictures. Well done 🙂
Renee Espriu
Sometimes it is difficult to not get caught up in the endless circle of the ‘same’.
Polly Robinson
I like the repetition and imagery here ~ splendid Amy
Walt Wojtanik
Brava, Amy! You paint with an amazing stroke! The repeat of the phrase at the start and finish wraps it tightly together. An excellent work. Keep plugging away. and I’ll read every one.
Janet
Sad and BRILLIANT!
julespaige
Once you plant that hedge row it is hard to cut it down…
So glad someone got the Rod Serling link (if I could have only spelled it correctly…I’ll try to remember to correct that).
Yes – poetry will have to do …
Off to read the link you provided. Cheers!
Lindy Lee
Chains can weight us down & hold us back…
ohcgd
great write; great wisdom
Madeleine Begun Kane
That’s really good!
purplepeninportland
I see some iron links and a heavy chain. Great opening and closing.