His arch above him is bowing under the load
from pressure increasing logarithmically,
from warnings unheard or ridiculed or scorned
instead of being explained intrinsically,
Instructions urgently whispered right out loud
while surgically altered listeners pretend not to hear.
Sandcastle virtues, against all odds still unwashed away;
make murkiest decisions seem perfectly clear.
This hardening of resolve lends some weak-kneed eloquence
as the scale of his belittlement, against all odds, has grown
till now, as Predictor, already unliked, been despised ever since;
so it is really no accident that this excuse must never be known.
This day is cursed like the rest ever since then, façade noticeably slipping,
fatigue a poor enough parasite, remorse a tireless foe.
He remembered not to watch where the traitors had been stepping;
turned off the alarm, turned to fight; that much we know.
Goes stumbling away but is drawn back
to be defeated over again, it is true, he is lost.
Like iron under acid, a long but sure gruesome demise,
losing so decisively lets him perceive what it cost.
He speaks of blows thudding home too quickly, for too long
as details, nothing more, nothing less.
He knows of torment and punishments, some more deserved,
but is mostly numb by now, he must confess.
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Author:
Dan Williams (
Offline) - Published: January 27th, 2025 01:08
- Comment from author about the poem: Seems I can only find distress to describe, well, hell.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 15
Offline)
Comments5
If it sounds like hell and it feels like hell .. then I'm betting every last dollar that it is bloomin hell .. now what have we got to look forward to eh' .. 🤞
A well written and quite haunting account of the feeling of being hell, and i got that feeling reading it. Great write
Your poem portrays a compelling narrative of struggle, perseverance, and eventual defeat. The language is rich and dense, creating an atmosphere of tension and impending doom. The inevitable toll of relentless pressure is quite haunting/daunting. Its rich language and vivid imagery create a haunting and memorable experience 👍🕊️
I get the image of an outclassed boxer to proud to give in being pummeled in a corner refusing to submit. Beaten broken humiliated but never surrendering. great images and an appropriate title as well. Slowly and gruesomely worn down. In life's fight we may all feel like this at times
That sounds like hell in my book, friend! And, hell would be distressful l, I'd wager! Well done in this expression! 🌹👏
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