avatarJonathan Greene

Summary

"Line in the Sand" is a reflective poem about setting personal boundaries to protect oneself from others' actions and the implications of crossing those boundaries.

Abstract

The poem "Line in the Sand" delves into the concept of personal boundaries, symbolized by a line drawn in the sand. It conveys the speaker's need to establish this boundary as a protective measure, anticipating that the other person, known for their rule-breaking nature, will inevitably cross it. The poem explores the dynamics of testing, reaction, and the assertion of independence, emphasizing that the speaker's intention was never to control but to safeguard themselves from the other's predictable behavior. Ultimately, the speaker acknowledges the futility of the boundary, as both the line and the relationship will eventually be washed away by the tide, signifying the passage of time and the inevitable end of their connection.

Opinions

  • The speaker has a clear understanding of the other person's tendency to defy rules and expectations.
  • There is a sense of resignation that the boundary will be crossed, yet the speaker remains firm in their resolve to maintain it.
  • The poem suggests that the act of setting a boundary is as much about self-preservation as it is about anticipating the other's actions.
  • The speaker experiences a mix of frustration and validation when the other person steps over the line, confirming their initial concerns.
  • The poem implies that the relationship is complex and fraught with tension, with the line in the sand serving as a tangible representation of their discord.
  • The speaker finds a sort of peace or acceptance in the realization that the boundary, like the relationship, is impermanent and subject to change beyond their control.

Line in the Sand

A Poem

Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash

This line in the sand is representative It’s a way to see if you will cross it, knowing what will happen if you do, and if you are ok with that result or if you are intent on testing me, who doesn’t really like to be tested, to see if I will stick by my line and I can assure you that I will

This line in the sand is personal It’s a boundary that I set to protect myself from you because I know you and I know I needed this line and I also knew you would step over it Always the rule-breaker, never the rule

This line in the sand is a test, you were right about that It’s not a hard test or an easy one but a test nevertheless because one thing I know about you is that you need to be put to the test so I can see if you will succumb to anyone except yourself

I also know when I use that word, succumb, that you will react and make sure that you step far, far over that line in the sand to prove a point to me that you can’t be controlled and the funny thing is that I wasn’t trying to control you by drawing this line in the sand I was trying to protect myself from who I knew you were and now that you are eight feet over the line that I drew in the sand I know I made the right choice

That line was us and now I will just wait for the tide to come and wash us away along with that line in the sand

© Jonathan Greene 2020

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Poetry
Self
Protection
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Test
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