Walking Away

Before you walk away, consider the consequences, for yourself as well as others.

Just walk away,

That's what they say,

Just walk away,

Don't save the day.

Just walk away,

It's the thing to do,

Just walk away,

Too much to lose.

Just walk away,

It's not your fight,

Just walk away,

You have the right.

So he walked away,

And an old man died,

He walked away,

When he could have tried.

So he walked away,

And a small child cried,

He walked away,

When he should have tried.

So he walked away,

From a scream in the park,

He walked away,

And the world grew dark.

So he walked away,

And his soul shivered,

He walked away,

And his humanity withered.

So he walked away,

He turned his face aside,

He walked away,

And his spirit died.

So he walked away,

Because he was afraid,

He walked away,

When he should have stayed.

His body walked on,

But it was just a shell,

His body walked long,

In it's living Hell.

Don't walk away.

© 2018 The Iron Horseman

Author's Note

An observation on the big city disease of refusing to get involved. Sometimes others need your help. Sometimes you need theirs. You can make a difference!

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Not being a big fan of repetition, I found that 50% of a fairly lengthy poem using the same line over & over . . . it brought on a little eye-glazing-over in stretches. Even a tweak here & there, to break up the monotony & add some variance would make a big difference. I like your message & the way you hammer it home repetitively, which lends itself to some type of music, with a simple beat-like rhythm. My opinion is that there are many of these types of people who instantly run for danger instead of away from it. But not everyone is like that & not everyone could be a help in such a situation. Lots of people are barely holding themselves together against dire challenges. I'm not in agreement that everyone should be guilt-tripped into hero action. We each have our strengths & it's better to encourage people to do what they're good at. And we can also celebrate the heros that jump into the fire without hesitation. But I do appreciate the spots in your message where you're saying people just don't want to get involved or they're basically too lazy or uncaring to get involved. These kinds of people could use some prodding, as you do in your poem (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Margie, for your review; constructive and thoughtful, as always. I know your feelings about repetition because we have had this discussion before. I also know that you don't make much use of it in your own excellent work. It is just a point on which we can agree to disagree. I regard it as just another tool to make use of when I deem it appropriate. In this instance it is simply the hammer to drive the nail!
I agree with all of your points about the message, and would add that i expected this to be controversial when I wrote it. But you will note that I wrote it anyway. I believe this is a dark corner of city life that needed a light shone into it. I am certainly not advocating that fools should rush in where angels fear to tread.
Perhaps I could give you an example of the kind of thing I am talking by using an instance from my own life.
This occurred in London, England. I was on my way to a meeting during the rush hour, crossing London bridge at the time. I was recovering from a serious illness at the time and halfway across the bridge I was struck by a wave of pain so agonizing that my brain shut things down and I collapsed unconscious on the sidewalk. I don't know how long I was out for - it might have been two minutes, it might have been ten. When I recovered consciousness people were stepping over my body because it was blocking the sidewalk, but not one single person stopped to offer assistance! I was left to struggle to my feet on my own. As it happened I was right as rain after a five minute rest, but I could just as easily have been dying. That is the kind of situation where anybody could have helped, but no one did.
I could quote several other examples of similar conduct, but I think that one instance is sufficient to make my point.
I hope you had a good Easter.

[barleygirl]

Thanks for sharing more about your point of view . . . all your observations are well taken! *smile*

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you - I enjoy our discussions.

[Declan]

Love this one too. Very well done with the theme and style, and great ending.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you once more, Declan. This is one I particularly like myself...

[Madeira]

I loved the repetition in this poem, as it conveys so strongly the cause and effect of his schooling which was never to interfere, and how each time he walked away it took a bit of himself with him, a very effective poem on how each person can make a difference if they ignore ideas that we are individuals and not community

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks again, Madeira. I love the way you have expressed your understanding of the poem, particularly 'and how each time he walked away it took a bit of himself with him'. YYou have captured exactly what I was trying to say!

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree with your logic in the poem. People seem blind to the needs of others. If we assisted someone. Maybe they could succeed. Thank you my friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Coyote. You are right - it is the willful indifference that I find so horrifying.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree and you are welcome my friend.

[C. Lee Battaglia]

His body walked on,
But it was just a shell,
His body walked long,
In it's living Hell.

You're words here really struck home to me.
It's so true though, we all have times in our life when we should have stayed. We should've been there for those who needed it the most. You're words here are powerful and I know that you're a very talented author/writer.
The flow was great!
Keep up the great work my friend!

Your friend,

C. Lee Battaglia

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Lee. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you again for the compliment! :)

[Wyrn Tiger]

Some times we just have to walk away solve the problem and other times we have to get closer to know the truth

[The Iron Horseman]

True. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Nipplegrinder]

I like this.
A nice read.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, NG.

[Paul Bell]

Good moral running through this.
We always think to ourselves, someone else will deal with it.
But hindsight is a wonderful thing. Doesn't bring back the dead though.

[The Iron Horseman]

That's the problem in a nutshell alright, Paul. Thanks.

[Einstein Noodle]

have to agree with the Barley babe about the repetition ..though i do also appreciate how it works to hammer a point ..i took it in a more general sense tho...and people walking past and/or over lifeless people on the sidewalks and alleys happens all the time in the larger metropolitan areas where deep drug addictions and crime are greater people are maybe less prone to "get involved" ... but there is no excuse .. especially today when cell phones are already attached to ones lips and ears .. just a simple 911 and a clear report may be enough to save a life ... i think of the "Kitty" Genovese rape and murder in the 60s Chicago ... the attack took over 30 minutes while multiple people heard her screams and watched "in horror" as she was brutally stabbed and killed ... no one called nor tried to help her ... her attacker was however interrupted by lights coming on and windows being opened ..so he was scared off .. but returned to continue the attack three times before she was silenced ... i hear your message loud and clear and just recounting that event puts a stop to my heart beat and that big question ...what would i have done ... i am glad i have not been tested by an event ... but i sure hope i would do something ... strong voice ... easy rhythm ... your own experience must have been life changing .. thank you for sharing
E.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks for your review, Noodleman. Your example is a very good extreme example of the syndrome! But no, my experience was not life chsnging, simply because I had learned that particular lesson long before that incident. I should also add that I have several experiences where my life has been saved by total strangers, so there are people out there who are prepared to get involved. Unfortunately they are a very small minority.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes...so true ...we have uplifting examples of courage and honesty every day .. the press simply seems to think those kinds of things aren't usually new worthy :(

[The Iron Horseman]

You're right, they only want to print the bad stuff!

[King-Bloodbolt]

This poem is something that speaks to me on a personal level. I've experienced the feeling of walking away. It may feel like a victory to have walked away from that bully that one time. But it was a prolonged defeat. If you walk away instead of dealing with your problems, you'll only extend the length of the problem. All in all, this poem has a nice message, however I found it quite repetitive as another review said. It was still a good one though.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, KB. The psychic trauma lasts forever, doesn't it? Unfortunately it is impossible to go back and do it over again. Roll on time machines!

[King-Bloodbolt]

Quite so. Happy to have reviewed. :)