Hi From The Other Side

No... this has nothing to do with Adele. :)

Hi!

How are you?

I hope you’re doing well.

No, please -

Don’t run away.

I meant it.

You don’t have to be afraid of me.

I’m not gonna damn you to Hell or anything.

I mean, that would be really rude -

Plus that kind of thing doesn’t happen.

But anyway.

I’m actually a human being,

Just like you.

Look.

See?

No horns, no claws, no tail,

No pointy fangs -

See? -

I’m normal.

Nothing to be scared of.

So,

If you’ve stuck around for this long,

Would you want to come over here and look around a little bit?

No one’s forcing you - 

I mean, you’re reading this, so it’s not exactly like you’re a captive audience - 

Unless you’re strapped to a chair somewhere with toothpicks keeping your eyes open

And someone holding a gun to your head, forcing you to read this -

Which, by the way, would be the absolute weirdest form of torture ever.

But anyway.

If you’re willing to,

Just take a little step forward

Over the line.

----------------

 See?

That wasn’t so hard.

Welcome to the other side.

You’ll find that it’s remarkably similar to yours

In a lot of ways,

Though there definitely are differences.

You have to be careful when you’re over here,

Because sometimes some of the people from your side

Can get mean.

They call you things

Like “bigot”,

Which is a really ugly word,

Especially when you’re the one wearing it.

They talk a lot about you hating people,

Which is weird,

Because you’re actually on this side because of love.

Don’t get me wrong -

There are plenty of people over here who are idiots

And who’ve got their whole perspectives out of whack,

Pretending to be part of something they’re really not,

At least, based on their actions.

But it’s the ground you’re standing on,

Not the people who stand around you,

That defines what you believe.

 

You know,

Sometimes I wonder what people on your side

Think about the people over here -

The ones who are really here.

Do they ever think about

How hard it is to be like this?

Do they ever wonder about

The fear,

The need to shrink within yourself,

The horrible, helpless feeling

Of knowing that you’re right

But being unable to find the right words to explain it?

(I know you wouldn’t agree that I’m right,

But that’s okay;

Just imagine the feeling.)

Does anyone stop to think

About how confusing and painful it is

To live in a world where, at every corner,

People are waiting eagerly to attack your faith,

Make you doubt,

Rip you to shreds like a pack of ravenous sharks?

 

I’m sorry.

That got a little intense.

I told you -

I don’t want to scare you.

I just want to make you see

How hard this is.

So maybe next time

You stab through the barrier between us with your words

And twist them around in someone’s gut like a self-assured knife,

You’ll remember

That there’s a human being

Standing on the other side.

Author's Note

I didn't particularly enjoy writing this one - it was more like one of those things I just needed to let out. Experiments in tone, I guess. Hooray for free verse.

Reviews

[Shabeeh Haider]

If only we could see them from the side on which they are. So many conflicts and misunderstandings could be removed. They have been created by people with ulterior motives and who have twisted their words.
They are different but they are so much like us.
You have treaded on a very sensitive topic and have conveyed your words brilliantly.

[AliciaB]

Thank you very much!

[LastMonth]

Honestly, You could've added ''See..?'' 9 more times and I wouldn't mind one bit.
I loved it.

What you're saying here is very important,
Especially in our world. Conflict is everywhere, and people so often tend to demonize and target the other side. None of it makes sense to me. We are all human beings, I don't think there are many 'Evil' people out there. Just interests and people looking out for themselves, or their families. I really wish more people could see the world like this.

The way you write is addictive, I feel like a little bird, following a trail of breadcrumbs. Each one is small and almost insignificant to my hunger, much like the one worded lines in your poems, yet I can't stop myself from following through with it.

Great job.

100/100.

[AliciaB]

Thank you so much for the wonderful review! And I totally agree with you about people. We be messed up. :)

[Stan Lee]

Wonderful conversational piece of writing. I cant understand why you didn't enjoy writing it but you have portrayed a very vital message. Humanity. Very emotive and evocative writing. Well done!

[AliciaB]

Thank you so very much!

[Blysful]

It doesn't matter what faith you have, no one should ever try to take it away or enforce another on you. It's sad, because your poem is real enough to tell me that at one point (probably recently, according to your authors note) you felt like someone was attacking you because of what you believed in, that they were attacking you seeing not a person but a difference from how they act and what they feel. However, it's also so darn happy because you don't let them push you or attack you, you say 'this is how I am and this is how you are, so why can't we leave it at that?'
It is an unfortunate fact that we hate because we are human. But it's because we are human, that we love too. I think that through all the rambling and the light hearted tone and the much deeper, meaningful subject, you've displayed both sides so perfectly it's almost as if you've studied humans for decades! :p
Wonderfully done once again, AliciaB! Wonderfully done indeed!

[AliciaB]

Thank you! I appreciate it. Your comment about me studying human beings for decades is funny, because I haven't even been around for "decades" yet. :) Almost, though.

[Blysful]

Same! High fives me, gurl!

[AliciaB]

High five! :)

[I am that I am]

Many will try to put out the fire of your joy. This is not because they wish to see you hurt; it is because they have already put out the flame of their own joy. They've created a world too dark to bear another's light; only because they've put their own light out. We can not turn on another's light for them; they can only turn their own light on. All we can do is find the light in ourselves; then there is no way we can ever contain it, it spreads everywhere. One candle can light a thousand other candles and it does not take away from its own flame. Our own joy and peace within ourselves works the same way, acting as a candle to others; unless they refuse to bear your light. All is well. Excellent work, Alicia B.

[AliciaB]

Thank you so much! That was beautiful! :)

[Vatsal Rohilla (account..]

A human on the other side- a beautiful theme you have highlighted in your poem. Your lines kept me engaged and I read your poem till the very last with keen interest. Well-written for a free verse poem and the way people's character has been pictured by you is nice. Keep writing.

[AliciaB]

Thank you!

[Bacchus]

We forget- esp. online-
there is a human on the other side.

[AliciaB]

True that. Thank you for the review!

[Emily]

I loved this!
Love the story it tells!
Keep it up!!

[AliciaB]

Thanks, Emily!