Lather

I honestly don't know why I love this poem as much as I do. It seems to fall between simplistic and complex, in such a way that i can't explain. Perhaps it's the repetitive nature that pulls it all together. The phrase you've used, "I wash the hands of you and I." by itself, has no meaning to the reader. Though, it seems as if it has a great meaning to you. And you've truly represented this personal thought, through the various sentences that lie between the repetitive phrase.
I could, of course, be completely off. Perhaps these words have no serious meaning. Meant to spark a connection with any reader that may be able to relate. If that's the case, you've done a beautiful job. I chose to believe there is a true meaning behind these words.
Good luck to you.

I liked the metaphor here and the lyrical repitition of some words, very nice. Even though I'm no poet I really like metaphors so this had me hooked. Also like the imagery provided and the simple details, not overly descriptive of big words as some writers will do. The pain of ending a relationship is described here and the trials of dealing with the emotional turmoil is beautifully intertwined in the different ways you described things. I liked this and will follow for more. Feel free to review my work Can You Hear Me sometime.

You had me at giant metaphor.

The one thing I think is really important to note on before I get into any content criticism is that I applaud the fact that you reached with this. There is obvious thought here. A certain amount of careful consideration to how a simple metaphor can relate to an extraordinary feeling even if said feeling is not particularly a good one. I appreciate metaphor. It's the backbone of what we, as poets, do, so you have my appreciation and attention.

That having been said, this poem had the feel of something that was aware of exactly where it wanted to go and breached that surface ever so slightly. The imagery itself was, frankly, a little static. The kinds of images you want to see when it comes to stripping oneself of someone else. The difficult part of poetry is in finding newer, wider, more poignant ways of explaining these things rather than the oldies that get sort of rehashed over and over again.

You're thinking about it, which is so important. Just think about how you could even say 'I washed my hands of you and I' without actually writing those words. Tell me about the way the soap washes down the drain, clings to the porcelain. Tell me how this moves you. I don't need to know that you're washing your hands of someone because your metaphor should do that for you. Be subtle, be inspired, and don't be afraid of delving into something a little messier. A little more organic. The reader will understand. The reader wants something they can sink their teeth into.

But most importantly poetry is not like prose in the fact that, even if the reader can't see what you're saying for what it is, they see something. They are moved by something. Their way of interpreting your poem is never wrong. Poetry is personal in that very sense so don't be obvious unless it serves a larger purpose, and don't worry if the reason it inspires you isn't the same reason it inspires someone else.

And I think you're getting there. The reason I say this is cause of these two lines:

I wash my hands of you and I.

I wash my hands.