Someone told me
to talk with some shame.
I didn't know that language.
So I went to my teacher
and asked what it was.
He said, it was something
I wouldn't understand;
he advised that I learn
better English.
I went to the preacher
and asked if he could teach.
He said "shame" was when
we asked from God,
yet in the donation boxes
wouldn't deposit.
I asked the political leaders.
They said it was the feeling
they would get
when the public could see through
their stories.
I asked the police.
They told me it was the thing they felt
when someone would make
YouTube videos of them
collecting the protection fees.
I asked the poet.
She said it was the deplorable,
devastating emotion
that she felt
when her book failed to sell well.
I asked the poor man
camping on the street.
He said it was how he felt:
when his children went hungry.
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Author:
Rebellion In Sanity (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: January 29th, 2026 06:10
- Comment from author about the poem: Can someone tell me what does 'shame' really mean?
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 9
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments5
Shame is when one lets down their own expectations. A lovely write.
As always, my gratitude for your support and thoughtful comments. Thank you 🙏
You are most welcome
Shame occurs when an individual grants another person the authority to diminish their self-worth and dictate their actions and expressions.
Your poem is powerful. Your research explores the multifaceted nature of shame and its pervasive impact on various aspects of life, affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds. The poet addresses personal, social, and moral dimensions of shame, illustrating how it manifests in diverse contexts—ranging from personal failure to societal expectations, poverty, and ethical dilemmas.
Thank you very much for the read and fave. Really appreciate your support 🙏
You're very welcome, my friend.
My friend, this is sharp and perfectly brutal. Each authority offers a hollow version of shame, but the poem refuses to stop there. When the voice shifts to lived hunger, the word finally becomes real. You don’t explain it…you let it be seen. Powerful work. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Appreciate your support and fave. Thanks for the read and very valuable comments. 🙏
I know not this word. Not a new brand of detergent, is it?🙃
Enjoyed the write.
Thanks a ton for visiting and comment. Appreciate your support 🙏
This lands like a series of hard, quiet punches—shame laid bare through everyone’s eyes but your own.
I like how it keeps its feet in the grit and still makes you feel for every voice; tough, honest, and quietly devastating.
Thank you very much for your read and extremely valuable comments. Appreciate your support 🙏
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