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One Small Word

It takes so little
to feel unloved.
One small word.
A disapproving glare.
The subtle shake of the head.

It all saturates, then floods
the fragile frame
where we store our souls.

The breaking of our bones,
so to speak,
when, after our souls drown
we are left with only
masses of damaged muscle,
twitching involuntarily,

as if prostrate
on a cold marble floor.

***

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

Sometimes, the inner-person has been beaten so badly by life that it cringes at every harsh word or gesture. Too bad, that a lot of people don't bother to look beneath the outside presented to the world, to see the beauty within. A great feel for the emotionally battered. I would replace [muscle] with ego. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Great public stance about the poorly loved. Focused. Good images and sound. A professional poem
I would eliminate the ellipses...
And perhaps consider the syntax of the third stanza, a bit awkward concerning subject/ verb.
Very powerful close!
Mark

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

I will remove the ellipses. I will also try to untangle that third stanza.
Thank you, again!
L

author comment

..

Eumolpus
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
ee cummings

It seems there is a lot of division lately, and harsh words just fly out so easily. Anyhoo, this is what laid itself out on my page. Thank you so much for reading!
L

author comment

my pleasure. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

You are correct - words have the power to do a lot of harm.
Thank you for reading!
L

author comment

the absent words also do harm one said and it can never be taken back or forgotten
good bit of writing here

Chrys

check out our chat room open to all 24/7

I agree with you, lack of the proper words can also cause suffering. And harsh words, once spoken, cannot be easily forgotten.
Thank you for your comment!
L

author comment

prostate
or
prostrate

after Covid we can put the whole world
in a frozen state
in a refrigerate
lol
Lav

Thank you for reading!
L

author comment

Have you heard of "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz? One of the agreements he suggests is to be impeccable with our words - toward others as well as ourselves. Good stuff. I agree with you - what we say is important!
Thank you so much for reading!
L

author comment
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