*Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor
and evil speaking
be put away from you,
with all malice;
~ Ephesians 4:31
Get Out Of The Way
get out of the way of malice–
malice will be mauled in the long run
now you see it galavanting25
in modern society’s ocean22
sporting pristine9 white clothes
short of masking livid8 weals
on its alabaster10 skin
it prides itself an
impartial honorary23 vice
disguised as virtue,
model of scruples,
conqueror of woes
it’s wickedly sagacious
gives illusions of justice:17
has no need to rummage28
and feels like a classic4 bout
of glorious,12 fortitudinous1 struggle
it’s that dangerous2 drudgery20
that keeps you in distress
(but clueless besides)
though some in the population19
brandish21 it, superior–
an irresistible6 connection:24
fanatic27 badge of honor;
enthusiasts’ nostalgia26
lugging such brooch is testimony5
one’s gone to the far side:
gone beyond feeling
given over to lust,
uncleanness, greediness,
it’s the root that explodes
into grim attitudes
that spew malevolence
in slanderous speech,
vitriolic gossip,
clamorous complaining
causes lasting distress
that holds one captive–
the heart imprisoned
vanity of the mind,
blindness of the heart:
the pinnacle30 of all ailments
all the education18 you
accumulated yesterday11
is wasted;15 it will not
banish the bitterness you hide
rancor comes as a lightning strike
that can make your heart stop
or on the chance of having
tricked death with a momentous29
resuscitation, somehow–
but one’s brain is not
couched in a lone cylindrical7
crypt that blocks the entrance13
to the gift gifted to you on
the vintage31 year of your birth,
it’s folly to think you’ll survive
such a strike. You’ll call it injustice17
for the blaze16 that rips through you
and can never be submerged14
*let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor
and evil speaking
be put away from you,
with all malice;
be renewed by the spirit of your mind,
lighten3 your soul
with compassion, grace,
and forgiveness: the spiritual fruit
to reverse the growth
of bitterness
and annihilate it
now you see it galavanting25
in modern society’s ocean22
sporting pristine9 white clothes
short of masking livid8 weals
on its alabaster10 skin
malice will maul itself, in the long run,
get out of its way
© selma 2022
In 2022 I did something audacious on a prompt: I employed 31 words for a self-imposed
challenge. All words were taken from the word-a-day list for August here hosted by Enticing The Muse Publication on Medium.
That was a one-time thing. It has never happened again
(I hope the ‘exponents’ weren’t too distracting as you read.)
THANKS FOR READING.
- This Happened To Me: Thank You, Susi, The Short Of It - November 8, 2024
- Clasp The Hands and Know: A Poem by John Masefield - November 7, 2024
- Wordless Wednesday - November 6, 2024
yes!
😉 💕
They didn’t distract me at all. I appreciate these lines: vanity of the mind,
blindness of the heart:
the pinnacle of all ailments
Thanks for reading dear Melissa. 😘
PREACH Selma! Go sistah! 🤗💖🙏🏼
🎤 😜 🤗
That was a great challenge, Selma. Well done. Hugs.
Yeah, the one and only time I’ve done that. I am delighted you read dear Teagan dear. Please be well. 😘
Wow Selma. A tour de force. (K)
Too showy, right? 🙃 thanks K. Bless you.
Not at all–you are expansive in a way I could never be, and I admire it.
This is so beautiful Selma and absolutely on spot.
So happy you found it to your liking Sadje. Happy you read this long one. 😚
Always my pleasure