Contrary Survival Mechanisms
The Narcissist and Empath
The narc can-not show who they really are,
or else their egregious mask would split –
the poisonous vitriol smatter far,
ignorant of all sides, will not submit.
The empath’s pain transforms to compassion,
The narc, a pernicious, mirror-gazer,
Dost thou mirror crack, when thou stares nightly,
Hast a faulty cognitive ‘apprais-er’?
A psych-trauma bond exists from childhood
Suffering manifests diff-er-ent-ly,
Pain internalised and monstrous bile erupts
Infecting all souls who cross thy domain,
An empath’s goals to change them, futile hopes,
The narc bullies, gaslights, as if a game.
****
Quick note: I chose to write ten syallables each line, with each second line rhyming, two parts I believe of the original sonnet form, yet I’m not sure the message is clear, as I did not get to include all the ideas I had due to the lines being so short. Also the third stanza doesn’t rhyme as I ran out of time. My first ‘sonnet’, so an experiment and work in progress. 😀
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The challenge:
About the Creator
Grz Colm
Film and TV reviews, 🎞 as well as short stories and free verse poems.
Comments (7)
Your choice to experiment with the sonnet form complements the theme beautifully. The imperfect rhyme and truncated lines enhance the feeling of distortion and imbalance inherent in these toxic dynamics.
Wonderful entry! I love the way you capture the tumultuous relationship between the narc and the empath. Super cool take on the challenge
The message seemed clear to me. I deal with both a narcissist and an empath in my daily life. While the empath is much nicer person and easier to deal with both the narcissist and the empath have deep mental health issues. The narcissist as we know is a Gaslighter and a bully and has no empathy for anything. But the empath is so deeply into wanting to please everyone and give to everyone that they forget about their own health And their own finances and that is a big problem.
There was so much truth to this and it's the sad reality. Loved your first sonnet!
Great job. Clever and relatable.
Excellent content! Especially like: “ The empath’s pain transforms to compassion, The narc, a pernicious, mirror-gazer, Dost thou mirror crack, when thou stares nightly,”✅
Fantastic writing Grizzle for Shizzle! Kickbutt & insightful! Go G! 🫶🏾🎉💪🏾