Cold

Voices bottled up, far away…out of reach
I still hear them, echoing in my brain
I try not to believe the fear—the disdain
So long I have avoided their gaze, 
But here they are again, at a distance—
All ablaze!

I toughened my shell that night,
From the amplified words drenched in my hands
I cried so many tears for no words came
Unionized by grief and frustration,
How could I ever embrace such abandon?

I thought I could recognize by the fruits
As they were right before my eyes
But within their very cores,
Tears blur the rotten cries
The very words and deeds unspoken—untold
The very truth you tamper and mold
As fists clench—as confused youth look on!
He fashioned you with gold! 

I hear gleeful harsh warnings—poetry—of the collateral damage of my brothers
Running up and down the streets—rampant to get at others
I try to see the beauty in every single shade
But now, all I can do is pray

Voices bottled up, far away…out of reach
I still hear them, echoing in my brain
I try not to believe the fear—the distain
So long I have avoided their gaze, 
But here they are again, at a distance—
All ablaze!

All I can do I can do is pray
All I must do is pray

As the fumes of the anger light up today
Destroying all trapped inside
Splitting the atoms of our faith
I promise you will fall!!!
How gleeful you all are!
I promise the unity is all a dream
Nothing’s like it seems

Inside, I feel blood boiling, but I cringe
Refusing to add to the chaos
My voice box bludgeoned by their fears 
Replaced with stranger’s tears

Too long have I avoided my gaze
In the mirror showing nothing but the hardened
Unable to recognize the rot within
I stay…I pray
Until true words heal and answers free
And the rest I leave in the hands that see

Here they are again
Within me, around me
Surrounding me
Frozen—cold… unfeeling, BOLD. 

He fashioned us with gold
He fashioned us with gold
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Ponce Avatar
May 10, 2014 at 12:47 PM
The images you have put together are poetically and insanely explosive. I specifically like the lines Too long have I avoided my gaze In the mirror showing nothing but the hardened Unable to recognize the rot within".
Loveless Avatar
March 1, 2014 at 11:01 AM
So brilliant I am speechless. One of my favorites.
Tacito Avatar
February 28, 2014 at 7:49 PM
I miss your words on here, Laura. This was utterly astounding, w/that touch of poignant destruction. Damn brilliant job!
Dahlusion Avatar
February 28, 2014 at 12:26 PM
An obvious master of metaphor and simile. Excellent use of imagery and diction. Bravo, Poet!
Makama Avatar
February 28, 2014 at 11:17 AM
Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for making my day. I have found it pleasurable to always begin the weekend with Poetrysoup because poets like you and poems like this do not disappoint. Have a lovely weekend
Force Avatar
February 24, 2014 at 7:11 PM
Laura...Love your use of metaphors, very well written..kudos..kj
Lamoureux Avatar
February 18, 2014 at 8:50 AM
Metaphorical magnificence! This was quite the ride.
Bordner Avatar
February 17, 2014 at 1:36 AM
A wild message hete Laura, replete with emotiona l contrasts. I can really get into that expression and all its character,"Frozen cold, unfeeling bold...spliting atoms of faith...he fashioned us with gold..." reminds me confused and used love. J.A.B.
Kilmer Avatar
February 16, 2014 at 4:39 PM
A gaze into the mirror is like looking into the future and the past all at the same time. Scary and emboldening. I love this one. Your amazing as always! ~Kilmer
Pettit Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 6:36 PM
Nice descriptive write which was long, but worth the read. Just correct the misspelled word in your third line: What you have as "distain" is correctly spelled "disdain".
Breidenthal Avatar
February 15, 2014 at 7:29 PM
Thanks for catching that, Robert! ~Laura
Tsiluma Avatar
February 11, 2014 at 1:59 AM
Wow Laura! No words! You do angst very well. I love your word association - fruits, rotten tears, the hands that see. Avoidance is a form of copping mechanism so I heard - but I think the person who can look at their image and recognize their reflection is one who shows immense strength - very often we only see the mirror image, distorted and peripheral. Excellently penned!
Breidenthal Avatar
February 13, 2014 at 4:16 PM
Vicky, thank you so much for your thorough review. I very much appreciate all that you say and thank you for visiting. I agree wholeheartedly with you. ~Laura
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