Just a child-like man,
Open and honest—
Heaven forbid that!
Naysaying is a disease.
Only the judgmental
Zero in on others’ sins,
Zapping their own asses—
Yes, that’s right!—in the end.
Often misunderstood,
Sensitive, artistic people
Bring forth light through darkness
Only to be labeled evil.
Uniformity will always be
Religion’s ruination. Let that ruminate.
Never conform for miracle men.
Erasure is not enlightenment.
Poet’s Note:
An acrostic Scorched Sunday poem. Part of my Scorched Strays series, The Prince confronts how sensitivity, honesty, and imagination are often mistaken for weakness—or worse, threat. Misread, moralized, and reshaped by those obsessed with conformity, such figures are labeled dangerous simply for refusing the mask. This poem refuses that lie.
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, January 4, 2026.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: January 4th, 2026 08:53
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Religion
- Views: 30
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Tristan Robert Lange, aDarkerMind, Teddy.15, Paul Bell, Emmanuel Muthiani, NafisaSB
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Comments9
The statement is articulate and accurately represents the reality of HSP. Experiencing it personally allows one to grasp its truth and concur completely. I personally call it ignorance and jealous Well written, Tristan, your poem revolves around the tension between individuality and societal judgment. It critiques the judgmental nature of society, particularly how those who are sensitive and artistic are often misunderstood and labeled as "evil." The subject matter explores themes of conformity, personal authenticity, and the value of embracing one’s unique qualities in a world that often favors uniformity.
Friendship, thank you for this. Your words land with clarity and lived truth, and I feel the recognition behind them. This isn’t abstract theory…it’s named experience, and that resonance means a great deal to me, dear friend. 🦇🔥✍️🙏
You're so welcome, my dear friend,🌹
Thoughtful and sharp. I enjoyed how it defends honesty and imagination so boldly.
Thomas, I’m grateful for this. You caught the spine of the poem…that insistence on honesty and imagination as virtues, not liabilities. Glad that came through and the poem delivered, Much appreciated, my friend! 🦇🔥✍️🙏
Sunday is not scorched here at the moment, weather-wise! Wassat pic? Someone taken a bite out of a Batman-shaped biscuit? Good thing it wasn't a Popeye-shaped biscuit. Doh! He sneaks in, in a thousand ways! heehee.
It's the Roman Catholics I can't get on with, and their 'antics' at the Vatican for one thing.
That Batman biscuit image is brilliant, Orchi…exactly the kind of sideways humor that sneaks truth in under the radar. And “he sneaks in, in a thousand ways” might be one of the most accurate lines written today, poem or comment. In fact, we both know it is glugging true! Every. Single. Time. LOL! 🦇🔥✍️🙏
It's terrible how he sneaks in, but we can't stop it! What with him, Ol' Tom, and Obi, and dunno who else, it's a fair ole glugging time! lol. I'm talking rubbish now - heard too many glugs, gone a bit nutty! lol. Have you too?
Who me? Gone? I've been gluggy...i mean, nutty! 🤪
how sad this world today demands we confront honesty.
a wonderful write as always my friend.
My friend, your words resonate deeply. The sadness you name is real…honesty shouldn’t require armor, yet here we are. I’m grateful for your encouragement and for the shared understanding behind it. Truly appreciated as always, my friend. 🦇🔥✍️🙏
Religion preaches conformity and relies on it. There are those that copy nonconformity just to be in the in crowd and they are worse feigning nonconformity and proclaiming rebellion only to hypocritically be one and the same. A most thought provoking write Tristan
I certainly hear you, my dear friend. As far as I’ve seen or experienced, most systems depend on conformity. Religion stands out because it claims otherwise (Jesus accepts us as we are), which makes its contradictions stark. That’s when hypocrisy becomes visible, and that exposure is exactly what you’ve named…and what The Prince refuses to smooth over. Grateful for the thoughtful exchange, my friend. 🦇🔥✍️🙏
You are most welcome Tristan yes there is that ignored bump when they say they accept you for what you are but by the way there are ten commandments that must be kept and oh yes baptism or you can't coime in and don't forget to pay your money at the door.
He was a great entertainer he was wild and with no filters, but he loved so hard until his dieing day, he loved everyone who dared to love him. He certainly went out in grand poetic style. 🌹
Dearest Teddy, this is beautifully said. You honor the wildness, the lack of filters, and the fierce capacity to love. The way he went out...LEGENDARY...and yes, he loved to his dying day and brought the world together in way few others have. That kind of living is exactly what The Prince refuses to let be erased. Grateful for your words and support, as always. 🦇🔥✍️🙏
Everyone has their god, but not everyone's god is as good as my god.
I always wondered what Jesus would think of the religious opulence living off his name.
The Mother Teresa's of this world is how I see religion in action and should be applauded.
The ones that chap your door and spout their verses. They get the imaginary machine gun or the old-fashioned boot up the ass.
Paul, I hear you…and you made me laugh out loud. There’s fire in what you’re saying, but also a clear moral line drawn between lived compassion and performative piety. That distinction matters. And I 💯 agree with you! "🚫 Chapping...🚫📖👅💦" signs at the threshold should become a thing! LOL! Much appreciated my friend! 🦇🔥✍️🙏
these words ring so true in my ears sensitivity is always mistaken for weakness - and the world loses...
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