A few harsh words

How quickly innocence escalated
Youthful abandon morphed into alpha-male madness
And before I knew what really happened
Your fingerprints etched pain on my shocked skin
I wanted to say that this has gone too far
I wanted to say that I never wished for this
I wanted to say that your words hurt me long before
Your tight-gripped hands did
But I could not
For my words died in my throat that night -
I tried to revive them.....those scattered bits of meaning,
I found forgiveness, but it was not breathing anymore
I found compassion, but it's eyes only had an empty glare
I found friendship, gasping for breath, pleading for help,
But I could not help, my petrified hands
Had to protect my own heart
So I turned around, slowly
And let it die.

Reviews

[Gee]

Seen many a playground bully expressing his dislike, anger in this way. Can also see this in many a marriage that slowly slips into uncomfortable nastiness.
Have sheaved ( may be incorrect! ) my hands in pockets a few times and bitten my tongue to the point where my stomach imagines it to be an appetizer.
A fine piece SV

[SleeplessVolcano]

Thanks Gee. It is also ten times worse today, when kids are even bullied on-line and parents have no idea.......

[Einstein Noodle]

very emotive ..harsh words so easily slip off an angry, hurt tongue ...well said my friend! such a clearly expressed tragedy in your closing as your speaker has to protect their own heart and soul ..closing themselves off to what was a fruitful relationship ..your first line confuses me a little tho ..i think it should read innocence evaporated (or something to that effect) rather than escalated in the face of what comes afterward .. i really like the personifications of words, forgiveness,compassion,and friendship .. strong impressions ... i feel the regret of your closing line but also safety and release .. you have told a big story in a few lines ..well done says i!
E.

[SleeplessVolcano]

Ahhhh....I fully agree with your suggestion for edits.....will have a look at it shortly.....the beauty of poetry is how different people can interpret words from conflicting angles. I find it hilarious, sometimes, when poets tell critics, "well, that is NOT what I meant"......to which I would politely say, "Then don't use those words!".......Of course, I am not referring to your feedback now, but in general.......yes, words are subjective, and they can be interpreted in so many different ways, but in the context of a specific poem, they come alive, and we need to, while we create a poem, be conscious of how exactly the finished product of our "little baby" will exist in the end.....if that analogy makes any sense at all.....:)

On a personal note - this poem was a bit more than mere imagination - a "friend" of my son had his hands around my son's neck during a scuffle so these words I imagined, putting myself in my son's shoes........

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my! not a gessture anyone wants to allow ..i remember teaching my children to never let anyone put anything around their necks ..no matter how they may be "playing" ... you took an incident and what an inspired poem you created ...wonderful Volcano ..well done!

[B]

The love we let die
Is it ever justified
Does it just pass
Or do you live to regret it for life
And should you try to go on that track
It's a call one makes

[SleeplessVolcano]

Hardest call to make sometimes

[B]

It's something you can't undo
So. I don't really have much to say

[SleeplessVolcano]

Ask your heart to take a picture of your thoughts...
may give you a thousand words.

[B]

Done a lot