I didn’t care as much as the blood on the snow implied
it was after all just a horror show
you, with your nimble ways of
poking holes in my armor
you, with your kind smile and sharp knife
twisting screw
letting good drain out with bad
till meaning held no color.
I didn’t blame you at first
it’s a fact … some bite
they are taught to by pain
it’s a refuge, a coping mechanism, a
twist and writhe in slim net
of sanity and pathology
that’s all they know
the feral in their fur
if you try to be kind
they will purr
then go ahead and bite you.
I took my bleeding hand
stuck it in my mouth
to prevent saying the things I wanted to
Then I remembered all the little ways
you’d been before, the bare indifference
how I’d tried. Why had I kept on trying?
What possesses us to be kind
to broken things whose disapointment
in themselves turns to savagery?
At least it gave you an opportunity
to use that tenderness against me
I did feel a fool until I realized, yeah …
maybe you were my enemy all along
in that slow icing way you left me feeling emptied
which may say something about me
and how I should learn to try less
I’m sure you’d say; “nobody else can make you feel bad
without giving your permission.”
But I think I will disagree
that’s a passive-aggressive crock … Psych101
it’s your fault … no one else’s
with your holier-than-thou certainty
convinced you’re above us all
I walked away from the snow and the blood
a little cross at myself for not remembering
you can’t hand feed
wild cats.
You’ve ended this superbly and the imagery is worth every second of this read.
“you can’t hand feed
wild cats.”
I’m so glad you’re writing regularly again.
It is often quoted; “The best defense is a good offense.” [George Washington] It may be true most in actual war. For those who live in the Hobbesian State Of Nature, a war of all against all, it is fundamental. Though they can pretend otherwise.
Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
TheFeatheredSleep – Cat Bite
Such a powerful metaphor
Deep, real with a tinge of profound,
Loved it.
Thank you so much I really, really appreciate that dear Jude
Tee hee thank you very much for the reblog dearest Bob
Well goodness that’s an apropos quote if ever there was one! I do agree in that truth must come first. Never really a need to be cruel. I just don’t see where it needs to exist. There is a middle ground. And there is mercy. And there is kindness. Even if that makes me a little boring, I’d rather be that than cruel.
Thank you so much Tre. I was on the cusp of giving up for the reasons we both know, and I decided why be what they’d expect me to be? Meaning those who would say I’m not good enough. I suppose I will never think I am (good enough) but if we don’t try in life, we really don’t exist. I have always tried. I appreciate your support more than words can convey.
💙
Welcome
You are not boring, and kindness and mercy are not either. Cruelty may be exciting to many, but I do think those better things are more interesting.
Oh I do agree you so much – I wish others saw it that way
Me too. Kindness opens us to learning, to walking that mile in the shoes of others. Cruelty is a wall against that.
It’s such a pleasure