Built on the bones of our brothers and others on cannibalism we survived
By rape and murder a hunter not herder our species arrived
Scraping human marrow we killed by arrow the Neandertal
Who in their fear had only a wood spear to fight against us all
We chewed on their shank as their blood we drank, our numbers grew
When times were rough, to eat enough we ate our children too
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Author:
sorenbarrett (
Offline) - Published: February 28th, 2026 03:00
- Comment from author about the poem: Archeological evidence shows that our species were cannibals and the significant probability that we killed off the Neandertals because of superior weapons having bow and arrows while they had only spears. Although we did interbreed it may well have been through rape and Western Europeans contain about two percent Neandertal genes. When food became scarce it appears that we fed off the old, weak and small including children. Not isolated events but found in diverse far distant locations. Is it any wonder we still have a tendency toward violence in modern society.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 182
- Users favorite of this poem: Teddy.15, Paul Bell, Tristan Robert Lange, Dan Williams, Efrain Cajar, Poetic Licence, GenXer Sharon 🙏🍀, Bri J, DLewis88, Vipassana
- In collections: Cruelty, Social commentary, war.
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Comments18
The darkest of dark poetry readings and so fabulously executed. Of Man I'm not a fan some days! 🌹
Thank you Teddy for you read and comment it is as always most appreciated
Good write SB.
Thanks so much Orchi your review is most appreciated.
So could we not be better than that these days?
Usual enriched write, Soren, but to what end?
Thanks Dave for the review. Good question and one would hope so but that would depend on how much of that drive is genetic and inherited and how much learned. To what end Dave recognizing something is necessary in order to change it. People are arrogant feeling that we are the only species with compassion and value worth saving. Looking at our dark side may cause a realization that there is much we need to alter and not be so judgmental of other species
Old Nature/nurture debate repeated here. An open question, though mostly conducted with less extreme human attributes.
It is entirely possible to argue that generally cannibalism is not a component of societies today.
True Dave without the same hunger demands that may have been been present then, still we are not that far separated in time from our ancestors. When confronted with survival we still have numerous instances of it still being practiced.
However Soren, your response takes you where, precisely?
Genes of violence still remain in all of us Dave just look at the news and around us
I would not dispute that, Soren. My reservation is that there is nothing constructive in your statement(s).
Sometimes my poems are not they are simply statements of what is
yes all true, mankind likes to avoid our history, enjoyed the read
Thanks so much for the read and comment it is most appreciated
most welcome
I'm not surprised they were cannibals.You only have to look at the average Bank Manager to know they feast on their own kind.A well constructed poem with an important message
Extended to every part of life humans are opportunists vicious and savage but also having the ability to be charitable and loving taking care of sick and maimed a strange breed are we. Thanks so much David for the read and understanding.
Yes I would say you were correct, though even in the animal kingdom it happens.
Weapons make the man, as the news today tell you. Man for all his great conquests and achievements still harbours the Neandertal man mentality which will never abate it seems.
Thank you Paul for the read and comment yes Neandertals were also cannibals we were no better probably wiped them out with superior weapons eating our prey.
This poem revolves around the dark and brutal aspects of human survival and evolution, highlighting themes of violence, cannibalism, and the primal instincts that shaped humanity. The poet delves into the savage realities of early human existence, focusing on the conflict between our ancestors and the Neanderthals, along with the moral complexities of survival that sometimes led to extreme actions, such as cannibalism. Yet on the other hand, the poet invites readers to confront the unsettling truths about human nature and the lengths to which people have gone to endure.
Thank you Friendship you have seen the major points of this poem clearly and most accurately and with such a history can we say we are much different today. I appreciate your adept interpretation of this poem and its meaning.
Soren, this is brutal… and even more so knowing it’s grounded in archaeological reality. It doesn’t soften anything. The cadence drives the violence forward without apology, and that makes the confrontation sharper. It lands hard. My kind of poetry, friend. Well done! A fave. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thank you my friend I really do appreciate your reads and comments that are always so well thought out and perceptive.
You are most welcome, Soren. And...thank you too!
In truth, at the very bottom we want to survive. Survival in the big picture means passing on genes. It's only in surplus that kindness can itself survive.
Thank you so much for the read and comment. I appreciate your interpretation it is most valued
so much violence in our world today.
Thank you for the read and comment it is appreciated. Yes there has always been so much violence but we hear about it more today with all the media.
It's in our DNA I suppose. A good Write.
Thank you for the read and understanding words they are appreciated
I just watched a documentary that validates everything you present here so elegantly. As I have said many times before, we humans are a sorry lot.
Thank you Dan for the read and comment they are most important to me and appreciated
this shows how desperation can lead man to sink to such unimaginable horror, and the means taken to ensure personal survival...sad but true depiction of the truth
Thanks so much for the read and comment it is most appreciated
you are always welcome
have a good day
Dark times soren.
Andy
Thanks for the read Andy I know this is not your cup of tea but there must be dark before the coming of dawns light. Your words are always appreciated
A practiced that is still practiced today in some parts literally, for other part's of the world man has many way of devouring the week and poor. It is in our DNA to do what we need to in order to survive, but there must be another DNA in us, because the devouring of the week and poor these days, is not done out of need it is done out of greed. All that was needed to finish this write was a bottle of Chianti!!!, enjoyed the read
Thank you Tobani you have sensed the essence of it, we see ourselves and the moral judge of a world and assume the right to judge others while sitting on a thrown of hypocrisy. I appreciate your read and interpretation it is most valued my friend
You are very welcome
I learned something new today my friend.
Thank you so much for the read and comment it is most appreciated
Interesting history
Thanks William I appreciate the read and comment
I wrote a poem about the same subject--more or less. Mine is humorous but just as bleak, I think.
Thanks so much for reading this poem it means a great deal
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