been thinking about hate and
and how,
even with so much on my plate
I still find time to hate
we all do,
to a lesser or greater extent
so, I’m by no means virtuous
or a great example to follow
been thinking about how hate
hate and anger fit together,
when really
they have no place together
Hate is dangerous, toxic
the opposite of love,
while anger
anger can be
righteous dignified,
healthy and justified.
when the motives…the
motives behind it are sound
when a solution…a
solution to it can be found
So quick we too often are to
to choose hate and anger
to our own detriment
been thinking about hate and
and anger, but really just
want to think about,
love and understanding
*
been (sinking)thinking about hate and
andhow,
even with so much on my plate(piledhigh)
I still find time to hate
we all do,
to a lesser or greater extent,
so I’m by no means virtuous(listentomythoughts?)
or a great example to follow
been (drowning)thinking about how hate
hate andanger fit together,
when really
they have no place together
Hate is dangerous, toxic(loveraser)
the opposite of love,
while anger
anger can be
righteous dignified,
healthy andjustified.
when the motives…the
motives behind it are sound
when a resolution…a
solution to it can be found
So quick we toooften are to
to choose hate andanger
to our own detriment
been (suffocating)thinking about hateand
andanger, but really just
want to think about,
love andunderstanding
*
been (sinking)thinking about hate(overandoverdigestingruminatingmeditating) and
-in our minds, we’re fine, are we?-
andhow,
even with so much on my plate(piledhigh),
I still find time to hate(somuchtimesomuchroomwasted)
we all do,
to a lesser or greater extent(youmeusherhimthey),
so I’m by no means virtuous(listentomythoughts?)
or a great example to follow(don’tfollowmyactions)
been (drowning)thinking about how hate(itdrainsholdsusdown)
-in our minds, we’re fine, are we?-
hate andanger fit together,
when really
they have no place together
Hate is dangerous, toxic(loveraser)
the opposite of love,
while anger
anger can be
righteous dignified, (protectiveofselfandothersadvocateadvocate)
healthy andjustified.
when the motives…the
motives behind it are sound
when a (absolution)resolution…a
(salvation)solution to it can be found
So quick(lightningrapido), we too(fartoo) often are to
to choose hate(scourgeantithesisoflovefear) andanger
to our own detriment
been (suffocating)thinking about hate(thepainitcausestoall) and
-in our minds, we’re fine, are we?-
andanger, but really just
want to think about,
love andunderstanding(andpeace…gloriouspeace)
- by Dan Edge https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584626063607-b385c9f727cf?fit=
- This is my own work and has not been generated in whole or in part by AI
Great piece Paul, loved the repetition – enjambment, worked so well to emphasise the emotion alongside the asides= like the more you tell/will yourself to feel a certain way, you can’t escape it. Very clever, . I don’t think I’ve ever felt hate but I sure as hell have been angry – there’s a certain, weird satisfaction in it. Expecially when its self- righteous 🤣
Thank you, Celia! The repetition and enjambment all sorta came in the sorta post-editing stage lol. Hate is something I try to avoid…but it does intoxicate and like ROCK said further down it can often be used by people to mask hurt and elevate how they feel. Hate is also rooted in fear. Anger is different and I learned in my therapy programme thing I’m doing right now…well I already knew it…but the woman made the point that anger…is often considered a negative emotion…when really it’s not…all emotions are valid and justified. The problem is when people don’t know what to do with them. Anyway, yeah…in the editing stage I added all these crazy bits to it…but it felt kinda too much in just one stanza so just felt it would be better if it more gradually progressed. As that’s how anger and hatred progress…in cycles really. Anyway, thank you again! That went on here before anywhere else…I have to point that out haha! I was going to just take one of my older pieces as my first musing…but thought…nah…I’ll risk it with something completely new! 🙂
Definitely emotions – especially strong ones progress that way I think, you captured it perfectly! So glad you here! Feel a bit more like home now..So pleased you posted and even more wowed that you posted a real HOTP! Brillaint and thank you so much!
Masterpiece, chef’s kiss with this poem, Paul. The urgency and escalation of the hate building, first sinking, then drowning is clever and apt. Melancholic and soothing rhythm, though, fighting the hate. Very relatable piece. Great work.
Thank you, Dana! I hoped that would come through…the fighting against it. And appreciate your kind comments!
I love how this felt like it snowballed a bit as each line hit and then the repetition with the add-ins began, and it felt like a personal unraveling. Very effective and sadly a little too relatable. Wonderful work 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it…less glad you relate to it…at least it feels like we’re not alone eh? The snowballing thing was an afterthought. I had the original piece…then I did my “tweaks” but it felt so hurried in just one stanza…which is why I thought of it working like a cycle and then all these different extras coming through with each refresh. And also…that’s kinda how my brain works at times lol. Thanks, fin!
I understand how hate is often hurt in disguise or the need to feel better about one’s self amongst the masses…but it destroys us like any disease process. Intense and thought provoking writing.
Thanks, ROCK! Appreciate that. Totally agree. Sometimes people’s hate is born of something horrible and unpleasant…and can be understandable I guess to an extent…but it’s when you let it rot and fester, I think that’s a problem. Appreciate your comment!
loved the repetition on this, especially how it expanded as the poem went on. It is passionate, beautifully written, and I feel the sense of urgency that Dana expressed. I really enjoyed this.
Thank you, River! Appreciate that a lot! It was originally going to be a one stanza thing…but then I started adding lots of weird stuff to it…so felt it would work better as a cyclical sorta thing. Thanks and well done on this new place! Loving it already!
Really, thoroughly enjoyed this, Paul. Was it written to a tune? It feels like it could be a song. I’ve definitely thought I’ve felt hatred before but looking back I think it was more anger than hate. In my opinion you have to love something before you can truly hate it
That’s the thing I believe a lot of people get wrong about anger…it gets wrongly described as a negative emotion…when all emotions are valid responses…in their place. But I think you are definitely right there…how can anyone have such a strong opinion about something without knowing them or it? That’s why I find racial hate so messed up and stupid…because it’s not based on real knowledge…people don’t hate black people, for instance, because they are bad people (they might believe lies, half-truths that lead to it) and sometimes there might be people who have had bad experiences…but ususally…that hatred is just a form of fear…and protection agiainst what people don’t like. Anger can be wonderful and helpful and righteous and justified. Anyway, no song in particular….but I do love music and sometimes when writing poetry, I do imagine it being sung, or spoke, or even rapped….so that maybe is why? Thank you anyway. And sorry for the massive reply lol!