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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?

Copyright © Triny Xiang | Year Posted 2024

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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! Login to Reply 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. Login to Reply 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. Login to Reply 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.