My heart goes out to you in your insular world where you are isolated and not even alone. A paradox that is hard to live through. Excellent metaphor and write. Liz

I love YOUR WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva

A meaningful metaphorical offering; thank you for sharing it, Pea. Love and best wishes to you,

Regis

Wonderful writing sweet lady...Hugss

captivating piece of sheer intrinsic beauty and enigma !
Thrilled to have you as a dear and affectionate friend Phyllis

Blessings

Peter

Sometimes the loss of communication and heartfelt feelings seems to mire us in a cactus patch stinging us with their thorns at every turn. When we feel this loss, we feel it is we who did something wrong to cause it, when in fact it was just the natural course of events that happened when the first "I don't care" was said. Even tho this is fiction, many can relate to this; I know I can. Thank you for sharing.

May the Lord Jesus bless you, and those whom you love, and who love you too, and be with you always, and at your side constantly. With much love in my heart, joy to the world, peace on earth, & ((((((((((MANY WONDERFUL SISTERLY HUGGGGSSSS)))))))))), your little sister, Barbie

Comment: Though you wrote this as fiction, I can feel the final desperation...and, you know what, I'm glad she left! Good expression of her undoubted feelings...

Something of a moving target, Phyllis, wanting to be touched, to be loved even, but afraid...and distance may be the safer option.
John

Hahaha!!!!! Pea, you have outdone yourself and everyone with this poem. There are some really interesting reviews you have here. It is so interesting to see to many different reviews that is relating to the readers' own life's experience. I'm appalled by this. Aren't you?

You silly girl, you have done this BRILLIANTLY!!!!! Could have fooled me too!!!!!

Sandie Angel :o)

Guess it is time
for me to put away
the Band-Aids
and get out
my travel gear

Sometimes, that's truly the best thing to do.

Yes, there can be beauty if the cactus, as in many relationships,
but all too often it comes with a price: pain. I guess the question is: how much pain is enough? or something. =gene.

a sense of loss--enjoyed the deciphering!

The pain of the cactus that can also have some of the most beautiful flowers is amazing, almost like the rose with its thorns. Unapproachable and yet able to save the lifes of those dying of thirst if split open. You are right there is so much that can be read into this by the individual but that is what good poetry should do, not only release the thoughts of the writer but invoke the thoughts of the reader.
Fee

Well being called a cactus by my hubby I can somehow relate to this and feel the tiny prick inside!!

Love tinka

Descriptive psych into the defining motif of the cactus tells the great story...raising awareness that everyday items in the house collect dust while we venture out into this big desert to find something really alive and capable of pricking our souls back into instead of further away and estranging our loved ones...at least a sharp spline gouging us in our most tender spots lets us know we feel...pain...Cactus Almost Human with some purple RIT can turn it into a laughable cartoon cactus and Wiley the Coyote can hike his rear leg on it...be well, Pea.

Love,
Sage

Amost as though you are wanting to keep a distance from something that fears you. Thank you for sharing a great write Phyllis.

Newfie Hugs, Rose

Very dynamic! Asking to be noticed, yet protecting oneself,
this is what I understand...

Axilea

May be fictional, but hits close to home. A sense of loss in this, under the smiles...well done, as USUAL, my Peapod.

(((((HUGGIES))))) and love and laughs for you, Karla.

You've got me disoriented, but there's something bubbly about it all. Cheers

See ya and hear ya, great job in overcoming fear. Wonderful uplifting write. Love, Bonnie

I read this and saw two meanings--hot just a bird wanting a crumb but I thought of my teenager daughter talking about guys she likes that don't seem to notice her and yet she can only cry out in her mind because to her it seems improper to let the guy know she likes him--for what, I don't know. Now, how did I get all that from this one poem? Hmmm.