“I could name the very moment when it had begun,
and one day I knew I should be able to name the final hour.”
Graham Greene ~The End of the Affair
Let me stress, the start was honest; stigmatic as two bleeding hearts
Not one moment did we dally; planning, daring, all that mattered
Lovers careless, feeling carefree; combustible the sense of guilt
Joy was judge of stolen chances; jealousy was wanting more
Hindsight's such a hateful thing; its hard enough to retrospect
The ticking clock our trespasser; love soon trickled through the cracks
As my life's blood leached away; I legislated out of bounds
In the end God broke our bonds; though not before my name was called
Let's not be bitter looking back; just beaten by the cruellest trick
My husband's hubris was the flaw; he too is sad it ended thus,
For Bjorn’s MTB prompt: Meet the Bar with a Beat we are writing an alliterative verse where the three stressed repeat sounds provide rhythm rather than reliance on syllabic count or rhyme
PoetryPix 
The first line sets the tone and the rhythm beautifully and carries us through this “hindsight,” this “retrospect,” in a fashion both regretful and dispassionate. Loved it, Laura.
your comment so observant – thank you Dora -was writing as though the female protagonist in Greene’s novel
Have not read that one, ah, something to add to the old book list!
one of my favourite authors because he is so honestly flawed in every one via his protagonists
I remember reading “The Quiet American” and feeling a not-so-subtle brutality in his prose. But he hits the spot when you’re in the mood for that searchlight honesty.
for the film he wrote a different ending perhaps because it was feared too stark otherwise for audiences
I love the way I have the tone of the affair is set already in the first line….
To do what was doomed, we did it anyway.
began as it was meant to go on like as if following the beat of drum
“Hindsight’s such a hateful thing; its hard enough to retrospect
The ticking clock our trespasser; love soon trickled through the cracks”
These lines resonate with me.
thank you Melissa
I love that your poem is both alliterative and literary, Laura! It’s a long time since I read The End of the Affair. That sibilant opening line is a sparkler, and the rhythm is spot on. These lines stand out for me:
‘Lovers careless, feeling carefree; combustible the sense of guilt’
and
‘The ticking clock our trespasser; love soon trickled through the cracks.’
appreciate the sparkling sibilant Kim – thank you. Greene’s novel literally popped into the poem as I began without even thinking of it first
Now you’ve got me thinking how often we are caught in the nets of hindsight. We have a much larger supply of it than foresight. (K)
such a philosophical comment for me to chew on too Kerfe!
One thought always leads to another.
I love what you did with the prompt. This flows so well and the story carries on to the end. Hindsight is such a hateful thing…. a very iconic line!
I struggled with the flow whilst finding the beats so thank you your heartening comment Dwight
You are welcome.
Well now I must read Greene’s novel! You set the tone in the beginning of the poem….the alliteration is so well done and the sense flows beautifully.
Many thanks Lillian- it’s a bit of a heartbreaking novel for all concerned
So funny–I didn’t see your Graham Greene quote until I scrolled back up to the top after I read the poem–but I thought of Graham Greene right away. Such a unique take on the prompt!
thank you Merril – imbued with Greene – how canny that you felt it first -uncanny too!
You’re welcome, Laura.
It is very strange!
Love the title, Laura and the feel of all the alliterations rolling off my tongue! I like what you say about time and hindsight. 🙂
Many thanks for your appreciation of this alliterative poem including the title!
You are so welcome.