They sneer in her direction,
call her frigid, detached,
so sinfully unlike them.
She watches the social zombies—
their eyes hard, their lips twisted
by poison,
their rage unmasked—and she thinks, Deep
down in the bones, everyone feels.
photo by Vladimir Palyanov, on Unsplash
-
for Poets and Storytellers United (Weekly Scribblings #50: Down in My Bones,
“think about how we might finish this sentence, ‘Down in my bones, I feel
_____________’. If you’d rather tackle this from a different angle, you also
have the option to write about bones in general. It also isn’t necessary to use
the exact phrasing.”), and for Twiglet #207 (“an emotional ape”).
We put on many faces in self-defense but yes it still hurts all the way to the bone
ReplyDeleteSo true. There is much one must do in self-defense. And too many times, safety from one thing brings danger from another.
DeleteA good reminder to be kind, always.
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am.
DeleteYeah, but feels WHAT?
ReplyDeleteAnd that, my brilliant Debra, is the question.
DeleteIn this time of deep division, I must wonder if what half of us feel is shared in any way by the other half. And I become overwhelmed.
ReplyDeletePolitically, I think reclaiming the ethical dimension does a lot to relieve the polarization.
DeletePsychologically, I'm not sure to what extent any of us can understand any other's feelings. We can pick up a general emotional quality, but one laugh is not another laugh, one kiss is not another kiss...
@Helen, I'm right with you in wondering (and on feeling quite overwhelmed at times).
Delete@Priscilla, I think you are correct on the your assessment of people and emotions. It's one of the reasons why communication--honest, plain communication--is so important. We might think that we know what someone's laughter means, but we can only truly understand what feeds it if they explain it to us... and we listen.
Some bury those feelings so deep.
ReplyDeleteClearly she is not one who deserves ridicule, but those others ... well, perhaps pity.
I've always felt bad about those who feel they must bury their feelings. I can't imagine doing the same and still being me. And the idea of someone not being able to be how they are is very sad.
DeleteWhen it comes to "those others..." their behavior tends to evoke a combination of pity, frustration, and disgust out of me.
DeleteMarvelous work, MG. You nailed it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ron..
Deletefear, I think. they feel fear ~
ReplyDeleteI believe you are correct--fear, which too often morphs into violence and hatred.
DeleteAlas we need to view others with eyes of love or else we remain blind
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday
much love...
Very true. It's much easier to understand others, if we can find a way to put ourselves in their shoes. Although, we have to truly understand their shoes first.
DeleteYes, we all feel...but differently according to the standards we were taught.
ReplyDeleteEnvironment and experience are certainly factors.
DeleteI like the way you have played with the old saying ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me’. This poem stings with hurt, Magaly. The social zombies are familiar, with their hard eyes, twisted lips and unmasked rage. How did they get like that?
ReplyDeleteSeeing someone do something they know they couldn't do tends to start them off.
Delete@Kim, I've asked myself that question many times. I think it's one of the things that helps me stick around longer around individuals like that, try harder to make things better. I mean, if something made them turn so ugly, maybe something else can bring them back.
Delete@Priscilla, That's a very scary thought, since so many people are capable of doing things other people can.
Nicely put. Something we all need to remind ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa.
DeleteSocial zombies --- oh I've known a few...their lips tinged by the poison they spew!
ReplyDeleteSigh.
DeleteIf only the social zombies *did* have the capacity to feel or think any of the feelings/thoughts that make nicer people "so sinfully unlike them."
ReplyDeleteIf only... I'm quite sure that too many times what people say they despise is exactly what they need.
DeleteWow! We all feel fear of some sort. When only rage shows on the face, you cannot see deep down. Great piece of art work as well!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sara.
DeleteThere is so much going on in this little piece and I am here for it. The way certain people are so dedicated to their act of "othering" that they'll ignore common sense, the cutting observation of how stupid that is, and the final acknowledgement how, at least in the intensity of our emotions, we are all human. I've veered from rage to sympathy to rage again and all the feelings in between many, many times during this pandemic, all through the course of one conversation sometimes. This is one of the truest things I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us have done the "rage to sympathy to rage" dance a whole lot this year. Things have been so hard.
Delete...the surface can hide SO much...
ReplyDeleteIndeed...
DeleteThis was written for us to think. I know that I can still flirt while wearing my mask. Comments my way, sort of, "I can tell you are smiling even with the mask, your smile shows in your eyes."
ReplyDeleteUpdate, my niece will start her treatment Monday. a partied mastectomy and then months of chemo. It will be done at our M.D. Anderson Hospital.
..
I am keeping your niece in my thoughts. I hope her treatment is successful and that the side effects aren't too brutal. Fingers crossed!
DeleteNow... imagine being accepted by the poison brigade...that is when you know you have a problem...As for their feelings deep down ...Time is better used addressing more important issues.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear goodness! The thought of "belonging" to the poison crowd makes me ill. àČ ╭╮àČ
Delete