Life is Like Ketchup

a metaphorical look inside a fractured mind

I am the essence of shame

Lies have been told (they’re always told)

In order to ease the recriminations attempting to reap my soul

But their waspish stings have ravaged my heart leaving me for dead!

 

Unfeeling and stone cold

The retaliation of my own pride and indignation

Are nothing, NOTHING

Compared to the truth (they couldn’t handle the truth)

 

This cataclysmic world I’m trapped inside

Has left me angry and misguided

There is no right, only wrong

But is it fact or fiction?

 

My skin fillets as smooth as butter

At the touch of a plastic knife

The veil of pain must fall to the floor so I can fly away

Returned forever to ash and sand, oh sweet deafening bliss!

 

Each day I beg to die!

But God’s irksome voice keeps coaxing me,

"Just hold on.”

I’d love it if the tears I shed would form a river in which I could drown.

 

The culminations of shame and rage have finally lead to this

I’m stuck on a proverbial cliff starring into the abyss

My heart has been swallowed by darkness

It’s telling me I must let go

 

Truth be told (lies, they’re all lies!)

Letting go…

It is the only way

To raise the curtain for the next act of this show

 

Blinded by the bright lights I am forced to see

I’ve rode an elevator to Heaven

But since my wings have been charred crispy and black

They won’t allow me to stay

 

God,

The irony

The unforgiving repetitiveness of life’s lessons just go to prove

Life, is not a box of chocolates

 

Life, is like Ketchup.

 

Author's Note

This was originally written in 2006 so the writing is very juvenile is some parts compared to my other writing -It's gone through several intense rounds of review as it was a journal/blog entry. But I felt the message was important so I pulled it off the shelf and updated the content. Thanks for reading and reviews are apprciated!

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

The last stanza and last line are the strongest of the piece in my opinion. I sense a lot of angst, searching and a little anger in this one, which is actually quite interesting in its own right.

Technically, I like the form and flow, it felt good to me throughout. The only little issue I had was perhaps that you repeated yourself quite a bit, just in different ways. I think this could be cut down just a little bit in order to make it pop off the page a little bit more. Overall, though, I enjoyed the piece.

[Kristin Lee]

Thanks. It's hard to revist works that stem from very emotional points in time. This was originally a blog/journal piece written in 2006. Life was VERY different and yes, I was very angry and angst ridden at the time.

The repetativeness probably stems from that scattered frame of mind. But the constructive criticism is definitely taken to heart as I strive to revamp these old writtings and make them into something great while maintaing the overall message.

[Mashoosh Kateb]

Such strong words that I am almost scared for you :) Dont forget lot of people like ketchup, it doesnt stand on its own but has helped many to keep many bland foods down :)

My favorite line has to be "But since my wings have been charred crispy and black, They won’t allow me to stay"

My critique. At the end, I almost was wanted to read "Life is not a box of chocolates... Life is the last drop of Ketchup" It keeps well with "It’s telling me I must let go" From your poem I got how you want to let go but something (almost unwillingly) is making you hold on. Like trying to get the last drop of ketchup out of the bottle. Or perhaps just ketchup is just enough. Like I said earlier, I shouldnt be reviewing poetry :)

[Pryde Foltz]

My skin fillets as smooth as butter
At the touch of a plastic knife

Emotions the bane and the blessing of a poet. What a phenomenal write. Kristin.

[Sami Khalil]

"My heart has been swallowed by darkness

It’s telling me I must let go



Truth be told (lies, they’re all lies!)

Letting go…

It is the only way

To raise the curtain for the next act of this show



Blinded by the bright lights I am forced to see "

I felt the powerful emotions in this write , the agony of the writer's situations , the lost journey towards heaven , the cry for the rebirth of the tormented soul...A very good one...:)

[Jack...]

Kristin, this was very good. I could feel the pain and the anger from your words. I could sense the desperation and the feeling of no one listening...believe me, I know this feeling well.

[Raven Cedrone]

I personally am glad you dug this piece out. It didn't come across as juvenile to me. I thought your message came across clearly and precisely and could really impact someone's life. The analogy of 'life is like ketchup' was original and creative. I enjoyed the read Kristin!

~Raven

[rhythm&blues]

Like ketchup, we all get stuck at some point. I like the analogy here, life is more often ketchup than chocolates. Well done.

[Kristin Lee]

It's a sticky, sweet mess most of the time. But some times its also most delicious.

[B-poet]

A candid take on how the variances of life can become as saucy as ketchup. Cooling off the steam of what's truly burning from within the heart and soul of anyone whose become a broken living angel instead of whole one. Great piece of writing. :)

[Kristin Lee]

Thank you!

[Angi]

Cutting ourselves to the quick on that ledge...oh yes, I have been here.

[Kristin Lee]

The ledge....its a dangerous, alluring place filled with so much temptaion and the possability of grace.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Self harm is a sad ironic state of being trapped in between the body and soul you have and the here and now as you see it. Thankfully most of those who have perfected this 'art' move on. well penned descripive piece.

[Kristin Lee]

The trappings of life are often the things that define us...and give us things to be thankful for.read moreThe trappings of life are often the things that define us...and give us things to be thankful for.

Thanks for all your support.