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A Scarlet Ode to Hawthorne

My shame is my scarlet letter Sewn stitch by stitch by years A scarlet letter emblazoned An alphabet on my chest A superhero’s symbol disguised Find me a phone booth Tear off my Brook Brothers shirt Pull down my J Crew pants It’s good to see my scarlet letter Fly like a speeding bullet Save us before we fall Into the maddening crowd Is it a superpower When everyone has it too No man is free from shame All of us Hesters in disguise Superheroes without shame Some heroes act without applause Some of us for Pearls in oysters I can hear Dimmsdale’s sermon My Chillingworth condemns me My scarlet letter beats on my chest My shame for all to see My superpower my weakness My weakness on full display God chose the weak in this world We bring shame to the strong We are the stones of Zion We cause the shameless to pause Look back on our scarlet letter Shameless in our exposition Without shame what are we? Without the scarlet letter Aren’t we just numbers?

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Sam Kauffman

Date: 3/26/2024 10:54:00 AM

Wonderful use of metaphor, Triny. This poem is skillfully written with Hester Prim throughout. I really enjoyed it. Love "stones of Zion." So creative. Thought you might also enjoy exploring Hawthorne's Daffydown Dilly. So good to meet you. Holly Week blessings to you as we explore our own scarlet letter in relation to Calvary!

Triny Xiang
Date: 3/26/2024 10:09:00 PM

Happy Easter, Sam. Yes, Christ has risen and will be again this weekend. No one bears shame as well as Him. Profound how Hester decides to wear the scarlet letter after all she's been through. Perhaps it's a metaphor for us to wear our letter proudly for all to see and not let it get to our heads as Jesus did so well.

Jay Narain

Date: 3/26/2024 10:01:00 AM

Nice poem on shame. Its a creation of feelings from heart.

Triny Xiang
Date: 3/26/2024 10:02:00 PM

Thank you, Jay. I always appreciate and am honored by your response.

Silent One

Date: 3/26/2024 5:53:00 AM

Your poem explores the universality of shame, suggesting that it is a common experience shared by all. In this way, shame becomes a unifying force rather than a source of isolation. The speaker grapples with the idea of shame as both a superpower and a weakness, highlighting its multifaceted nature. Your poem offers a poignant reflection on shame and its role in shaping our sense of self. It challenges us to confront our own vulnerabilities and embrace them as part of what makes us human.

Triny Xiang
Date: 3/26/2024 10:01:00 PM

Thank you so much for your read and interpretation. Sometimes shame is a velveteen rabbit tucked in a cubby. Most of the time my shame is a tiger at my throat. The trick must be turning it into a paper cutout.