Cruel Vilification

This acrostic poem delves into the quote "Cold-seeming people once cared too much" and addresses the agony behind the dispassionate exterior.

“Cold-seeming people once cared too much”

Reality to adages.

Under stone veiled dwells a dark past

Every cold heart hides torture and heartbreak

Love can be merciless.

 

Violent surge of memories, too far yet too near. History's cruelest repetition. 

It only took a few choice sentences. They didn’t have to be true.

Loss drowns her in a tidal wave. No rescue to be had. Heart breaks on the rocks below.

In reality, nobody’s there to listen, to care, to hug, to believe her.

Friends to judges, acquaintances to jurors, happy memories to executioners. Exoneration not to be had.

“It’s okay. She’s really had it coming. She deserves all she gets. She’s not a good person.”

Consequences. Manipulation. People judge only by the surface and she lost the game.

Abject humiliation’s the  name of the game. Undeserved yet deserved.

“Twice fooled, shame on me”

In time to become exactly what she’s been made

Once the fraying thread of faith gives way

Never again to hope. Never again to love. Never again to trust. Never again to care.

Author's Note

I extremely rarely write poetry and am hardly talented at it- prose is much more my forte, but my muse called this necessary and impulse said take a risk and do something different. Also, I acknowledge that the variants of the quote in line one are "Heartless people once cared too much" and "Cold-hearted people once cared too much."

Reviews

[Subversive Reality]

I like this, really spoke to me, a denouncement the judgemental mentality that pervades people and society so much these days.

"Friends to judges, acquaintances to jurors, happy memories to executioners" - wow.. Words can't describe how awesome that line is

"I extremely rarely write poetry and am hardly talented at it" - also wow :-)

Well done!

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thank you! Yes, people do get extremely judgmental in this day and age- and many judgments passed develop into self-fulfilling prophecies because of the pain wrought by the judgment.

[Patricia]

I think this is one that will hold true and strong for eternity, unfortunately. we are a judgmental society. I think it makes them feel better about themselves and that is shameful. very well done for one who says he doesn't write poetry, you do, and quite well.

[dw817]

I'm noticing a great (and lovely) use of personification in this writing. I especially like, "Love can be merciless."

It does seem that way sometimes doesn't it if you are in a codependent relationship. :)

Here's hoping you see the brighter side of clouds and the clearer side of the mirror. We are often our own worst enemy. Best to kiss and make up. :)

[Lyn Anderson]

This is so true. It is very hard to become hard after being beaten down. We think they are cold, but maybe they have just been burned.

[NoelHC]

I know you seldom write poems, and rarely review them (except for a select few ; ) ) but so far I have been impressed with your work when you do try. This is another one of those, well done.

[Angel Criner]

I have
Only
One word.
Heartbreaking.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Yeah, was definitely in a dark place when I wrote this! Thanks for stopping by!

[joshua sky]

This is a work that brings light to a subject that is employed by everyone, yet no one would readily admit to being: being judgmental. This speaks to me so poignantly because I know folks in my life right now that are suffering from osticization (if that's a word) on top of everything else they may be going through. If only I can "...take the beam out of my own eye before I attempt to take the speck out of my brother's..."--Jesus (paraphrased of course). Thank you for this submission, and you're an excellent writer all the way around. :)

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thanks so much for dropping by and reviewing! I think you're thinking of "ostracization" (gah, comes up as misspelled without the corerection, but ostracized is definitely a word anyhow
)

[Victoria PoetryBunny]

A lot of heavy feelings in this poem and great lines, but a really good poem.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thank you so much for your kind review! I was indeed overwhelmed by emotion at time I wrote this

[SquinklaPsyOps]

This is interesting. Your concept of flow is very good and your description is excellent.

Also you did a very good job how you explained things.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thank you so much for the review! [=

[SquinklaPsyOps]

Use the positive waves to travel