Unsaid
Things are not always better left unsaid.
What thoughts left unsaid that can only be screamed,
What nightmares be found in these failed fickle dreams?
What silence I suffer, else boundaries may fall,
What more, ‘fore I bash my own head off a wall?
How long shall I suffer to choke back these words,
That burn on my tongue, slice my palate to shards?
How much do I drink of your poisonous cup,
Filled over brim with indigestible slop?
Should I see the malice behind your wry smile,
The evil that sparks in the gleam of your eyes,
Should I sew closed my mouth, take it on the chin?
Must I be the veil that shrouds your mortal sins?
These words left unsaid, my poor conscience be told,
They’ve scratched and they've bitten and near swallowed me whole.
These long-warring thoughts beg my soul for release,
Do I speak now my truth, or forever hold your peace?
About the Creator
Cathy holmes
Canadian family girl with a recently discovered love for writing. Other loves include animals and sports.
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Comments (21)
Powerfully emotive, such a strong final line.
Another great last line! This one was hard hitting. Well done, Cathy!
This is hauntingly powerful, beautifully raw.
The tension in this is masterfully crafted. Hope the truth bursts out into the light where it belongs!
Insightful and thought provoking. There comes a time when self-survival must win!
It's really amazing!
Sometimes it's better to speak the truth.
A brutal truth well written!
Well-wrought, Cathy! If we valued truth more than self-serving fantasy, we could live in harmony, but some of us cannot break free of the lies we tell ourselves. "You may say I'm a dreamer..."
Brutal honesty is always the best in my opinion. Else, it'll just eat us up. Loved your poem!
Wow! Outstanding work, Cathy!💝🌟
A lot of thoughtful words here Cathy
Does it matter when my truth (be it true or be it false) falls on deaf ears (be they deafened by ignorance or their own truths)? Yeah, I hear ya, Cathy, & your words resonate upon the strings of my own experience.
Fab work Cathy! So brilliant! 🌸💪🏾
They’ve scratched and they bitten and near swallowed me whole. Love this poem, but this line hits different
How does one live with others' lies, how does one make peace with smiling war? This is powerful, painful, true and spectacularly penned, Cathy! It reminds me of a couple of favorite quotes: the first from Hamlet and the second from Jeremiah: "One may smile, and smile, and be a villain!" "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying Peace, peace; when there is no piece."
Sometimes it's only worse to keep things left unsaid. Wonderful and all too real poem!
Making eloquent verse of oppressive silence is a cunning reversal, Cathy!
Speak, and always remember who you are
‘How much do I drink’ That is the thing that made me swallow hard. Not just remain silent but be filled with the poison. Very powerful
Cathy, this is such a powerful piece! Wow, each line packs a serious punch. I’m actually so tripped out right now because I literally just wrote something about 20 minutes ago with the same-ish theme. Must be vibe-in’ on the same wave length 🤯 Great work, my friend!