Poems on damaged relationships

In these days when it seems like freedom of speech is being censored, and even though tolerance is preached, it seems there is a breakdown in acceptance. Here are some poems I've written in 2021 and reworked yesterday:

When Words Fall in Anger

 
The words sting,
A pause, a silence, a rift
I keep my mouth shut
only saying what absolutely
needs to be said
 
I go about my business
trying not to let –
whatever to call it –
affect me
but it’s too late
 
The red hot lava flows
down the volcano’s side
covering everything in the way
dampening light
snuffing out joy
 
That energy
spills into the room
hangs in the air, unseen
yet felt by those
sensitive to such things
 
I contemplate the reasons
for that attitude
part of me understanding
however, that emotional part of me
can’t help but take it personally
 
It’s really not my fault.
I know that.
It’s nothing to do with me.
I know that.
Still, my spirits crash and burn.

Words on a Page

 Words on a page –

a response

to my statements

Opinions –

insinuating I’m wrong

Disbelief –

that I could

have such a different

point of view from them

 

Heaven forbid

I see beyond the surface

Heaven forbid

I speak to what I see

and believe

is really happening

 

Like always,

the old feelings

of displeasing someone

fill me

 

I try not to be angry,

try not to let the hurtful words

bring me down

nor think poorly of those

whom I consider friends

 

I pull back

vow to myself

not to speak freely again

 

But wait!

I refuse to put up

with negative responses

I would not

speak thusly to them

I hold fast my words,

stand strong in my convictions

I don’t require agreement

only respect

I have the right

to my own beliefs!

 

Last I knew

the First Amendment

has not been revoked –

yet –

Is it becoming

freedom of speech

is only for certain people?

 

My choices are

not for argument,

not to name call,

not for debate.

 

And, if at some point,

I am proven wrong,

I will be the first

to admit it.

Severed Friendship

 

Sometimes relationships end

friends become distant

and drift apart

beliefs becoming

intolerable to the other

 

The time comes

to say goodbye

to let it go

for sanity’s sake,

for self-preservation

 

Told to believe in myself

but when my inner wisdom

went against her belief for me

I found I was only respected

when I followed her edicts

 

Disbelief that my views

were so opposite of hers,

her name-calling words

became the knife

that severed the friendship

 

By that point,

I no longer cared.

I handed her

the sharpened knife

and walked away

without retort.

 

 

Sometimes Life is Like This

 

Heated words

tear me to the soul

rubbing salt into

an already open wound

festering within

I cry for hours

Sandpaper tears

make my eyes

heavy and sore

my mind feels lost

issues pile upon issues

as one thing after another

seems to go wrong

or gets too complicated

I cry for hours

Emotional scars deepen 

I claw feebly

at the walls

trying to get back

my usual positive vibes

but with no energy

left to spare this day

I don’t care

I wallow in misery

and cry for hours

Sometimes life is like this

--Sasha Wolfe