The Demon of Control

Many of us have been controllers or suffered needlessly at one's hands. It's no fun. In fact, it will snuff the life right out of you, either way.

 

 Allow them to control you

 

 Give them everything they seek

 

 Appease them, patronize them,

 

 Continue being weak

 

 

 

 Do whatever they tell you

 

 Don’t you dare disagree

 

 For if you do, you know the outcome

 

 You’ll pay on bended knee

 

 

 

 Angry words will slice the air

 

 You’ll wish you’d gone along

 

 For choosing to confront

 

 They’ll make you feel you’re wrong

 

 

 

They’ll quickly wield a sword

 

 Of condemnation, guilt and shame

 

 Then they’ll turn on you abruptly

 

 And weave a web of blame

 

 

Filled with deep insecurities

 

And massive levels of fear

 

They must control their worlds

 

Holding tightly to what is dear

 

 

 

They’ll make demands on everyone

 

 On their beaten path

 

 Handing you a list of expectations

 

 Now, you get to do the math

 

 

 

 You’ll be expected to do it all

 

 Just as they command it

 

 And if you don’t, you can be sure

 

 They’ll throw a bloody fit

 

 

 

When you choose to take a stand

 

 For what you feel is right

 

 You just might get the silent treatment

 

 'Til you tell them they were right

 

 

 

 For there is but one they seek to please

 

 Only one they must satisfy

 

 Their selfish undertaking

 

 Is for Me, Myself, and I

 

Reviews

[youngwriter222]

"Do whatever they tell you
Don't you dare disagree
For if you do, you know the outcome
You'll pay on bended knee"

Yes very true, people do like to take advantage of you if you don't stand up for yourself. I don't know why others are so cruel but they are. I hope in the future others can be kinder. I am always afarid to stand up for what I believe in.
Awesome poem!
Sarah

[Anita B Jacques]

A awesome write, you are so right, some are worse then others, the ugly head of selfishness, you can see it the stores, the temper tantrums, no means nothing to them, the begging and whining, no self respect. Thank you for sharing this write with us, it would look good on refrigerator door, God bless you

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Pure pressure among kids is tough to resist... when you want to fit you do stupid things and when you get caught you then find out who your real friends are... "to thy own self be true" words to live by and those you love will always be there.

[Winter McPherson]

Wow! You sure have the control freak down to a fine tune in this poem. I can think of a few people I could send this too...lol...but then I'd have to deal with all the things you've mentioned here!

[Greg the Bard]

For there is but one they seek to please, Only one they must satisfy,Their selfish undertaking, Is for Me, Myself, and I

I love the ending. The total is wrapped up ;in it and the statement is correct. Great writwe

[James K. Blaylock]

Boy, have I ever been under that heavy-hating-thumb, but I'm free now, Thank God! Great write, my friend.

jkb

I can relate to this poem. I think this captures what it is like to be controlled. This is a great poem that is very powerful!

[S.E. Conway]

i feel for this one. truly

[Tania Leigh]

You have portrayed a control freak perfectly here. I am a true believer that the desire to control is born of insecurity, and it is such a destructive behavior. When a controlling person meets a kind, less assertive soul, the combination can be disaster.
The odd thing is, it's almost as if control freaks have a built-in radar that finds people that will succumb to their controlling ways. In a lot of cases, the unsuspecting "victim" doesn't realize who they are dealing with until they are quite involved in a relationship with them.

This is an excellent poem, Carole.

[THE BLACK SEAL]

beautiful.. i know exactly where you are coming from and i appreciated it

[WriterInside07]

Wow-True depiction of the narcissistic personality in poetic form. These people are masters of emotional con games. They have to be masters in order to con themselves; that is why they deflect. To admit to you they're wrong would mean they would have to look at themselves and change. Not likely. These people are energy stealer's ; spirit killers.
Since this is a review page the only critique I have is that I did stumble with the rhythm in 2 places: here: "..They must control their worlds, Holding tightly to (what they feel)dear"..-the flow stumbled for me-one too many words maybe? your writing is excellent so I'm not claiming I have the answer: All I could come up with for a suggestion was
" They must control their worlds, Holding tightly to what is dear.."
the second stumble for me was .."When you choose to take a stand for what you feel is right, You just might get the silent treatment (All day and all night)- too few words for the rhythm? again my only suggestion:
"When you choose to take a stand for what you feel is right, You just might get the silent treatment 'til you tell them they were right.." just suggestions from the point of view of a reader as well as a writer.
I love the rhythm you chose it flows very well overall. You certainly nailed this special kind of verbal bully who feeds on truly good hearted and vulnerable souls. Strong, evocative, powerful. "It riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave..Keep on thinking free"..Moody Blues-
Love that spider web-perfect- Thanks for sharing this with us.