Mildred's Lost Chance

Author's Note: The characters in this poem are from movies made of the novel "Of Human Bondage" by Somerset Maugham.


Mildred's Lost Chance -- and Phil's
by
Denise Noe

Phil Carey, martyr amongst men,
for loving your Mildred,
a woman stuck on the "bad" side
of the Madonna/whore divide.
"You disgust me," you said.
She struck back "cripple!"
But you had to know,
her contempt fake, though
her rage -- a volcano.
"You disgust me," you said
when she offered herself
but if you had wrapped
her in your arms that time
loved her that time,
you would have rescued her.
Finally. For real. And for good.