Notes About The Poem

For Nameless, Nightmare, Neglect Words Poetry Contest of Constance La France

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Nameless

“I cannot give a name to pain I’ve never known.” - by poet

What do I know of sadness
when it’s grief that is profound?
The misery of wounded hearts -
in anguish they are drowned.

The mother – who downtrodden -
sells her body to survive
and put food on the table
to keep her kids alive.

The father who dutifully
fights in a bloody war
comes home with missing limbs
and still dreams of gunfire’s roar.

The child caught in that same war,
who runs from an awful blast
and sees her loved ones dying -
a terror unsurpassed.

What know I of losing
everyone or everything
in an earthquake or tsunami?
What utter suffering.

Of being someone snatched up
from the street, then like a slave,
be forced into defilement
or thrown into a grave.

Of being born into
a family of abuse
and no one has a clue.
Kids like these cannot get loose.

Of prisoners of war, of Jews
packed like rats in dirty trains;
of all slaves throughout history
and souls now still in chains.

I think of all the torture 
humanity’s gone through -
unlucky folks whose fate would be
that nothing could they do.

Babies with serious defects
with lives seeming aimless. . .
Because I can’t know pain like this,
for me, it all is nameless.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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12
Lamoureux Avatar
January 16, 2024 at 4:45 PM
This is fabulous. Congratulations on being number two in the top 100. Well done Andrea.
Rodgers Avatar
January 15, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Andrea, your poem is an insightful exploration of profound grief and the myriad sorrows faced by humanity. The vivid portrayal of individuals enduring heart-wrenching trials evokes empathy and reflection. Your words resonate, reminding us of the deep, often nameless, suffering experienced by many. - Blessings, Daniel
Ray Choudhury Avatar
January 7, 2024 at 9:30 AM
A wonderfully profound poem, Dear Andrea. Every stanza conveys a deep thought and empathy...but you are right, those pains are all nameless to us, and many other people. Congratulations on your poem being among the top-listed poems. Love ~
Legros Kelley Avatar
January 5, 2024 at 11:22 PM
Andrea, tears sting my eyes as I finish reading your poem. This is profound, a much needed reminder of good fortune, often taken for granted. This is a Great poem, a fave for me.
Volumes Avatar
December 29, 2023 at 3:18 PM
Read this for the first time today, and tears streamed down my face, not because these horrific scenes were new to me, but because, but for God's grace, there go I. Andrea your poem is superb, yes its sad, but there is such a thankfulness about it, and a truth in the reference that to us they are nameless. You shine out as a true caring soul. I admire you.
Dietrich Avatar
December 30, 2023 at 10:39 AM
You made me feel so special by saying this to me. I admire you too.
Goldsmith Avatar
December 29, 2023 at 7:53 AM
Back with Congratulations on being number 3 in the "100 Best New Poems" list for Soup with your amazing/beautiful yet sad "Nameless"write. Have a great/wonderful day/2024 writing away.................
Dietrich Avatar
December 30, 2023 at 10:31 AM
Thanks and happy new year,Paula
Warlov Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 7:06 PM
An astute observer once referred to it philosophically as: "Man's inhumanity to man". Who needs the personage of a devil to blame when it's obvious that the fault lies in ourselves - our fears. Too bad God didn't kill Death in order to free us . . . Oh wait! Practice your Christianity ("Perfect love casts out fear") and leave the rest to him.
Warlov Avatar
December 30, 2023 at 1:14 PM
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to 'The Father' but by me" [exclusivity] ~"Believe And Receive the Lord and you will be saved" ~ "I stand at the door and knock. Anyone who opens I will come in and have supper with her". ~~~ Christianity in a nutshell. ~ ;)
Dietrich Avatar
December 30, 2023 at 10:36 AM
Hmmm I was raised with a non traditional religion. God knew Adam And Eve would partake of the apple and he needed them to do it so that they would understand the real world. Otherwise they couldn't have grown. I don't buy into the original sin theory. Nor do I think we should fear death.
Warlov Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 10:07 PM
ii ~ And you said: ~ Andrea Dietrich Date: 12/27/2023 9:02:00 PM ~ "It makes no sense to kill death" ~ But destroying Death is the only thing that makes sense to me in a world where both Love and Death exists. A Perfect God, couldn't be the product of both so Mankinds' choice to know good and evil brought DEATH (the epitome of evil) into the world and that's what Christianity fixed. Eternal life is given to any and all who choose it.
Warlov Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 9:28 PM
The fear of death; understood as being the primordial imperative, underlies most if not all of our 'Sinful' behaviors. "Fear", in Genesis (the first book)', is the product of Adam's choice to know 'Good and Evil'. In Revelations (the last book) we see a list of the types that are denied entry into the kingdom. Merely being Fearful is one of them. "Faith" is the opposite of "Fear". My pronouncement to Practice Christianity does not exclude nor denigrate any other present day "Faith/s". Again, I quote Paul; "Perfect love casts out fear" and Leave The Rest To Him
Dietrich Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 9:07 PM
And those not Christian have seen the light too. God loves us all. I can't explain why some suffer more than others. Just getting a body and learning opposition in life is our purpose here. Sadly some people only get the bad and no good. There is a special place for souls such as those.
Dietrich Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 9:02 PM
It makes no sense to kill death. Our life on earth is a blink of the eye compared to eternity. Many people have experienced near death. Some could hear the surgeons discussions and the tools being used on them at the moment they were clinically dead. There is no scientific explanation. Nearly all who see the light wish they could have stayed there. That's why I choose not to fear death.
Barry-Nishanian Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 2:00 PM
Wonderfully expressed. Congrats on top 100!
Dietrich Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 9:08 PM
Thanks, Barbara
Ridley Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 4:40 AM
This is a power piece thank you for sharing it with us. Blessings and wholeness to you
Dietrich Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 9:07 PM
Thank you
Beaufort Avatar
December 18, 2023 at 8:10 AM
In a way, it is so hard to understand and empathize with the pain that surrounds us. Because there is so much, we can only pick and choose what we may deal with. And then, there are those on the other side inflicting pain who refuse to stop or who don't really care about the rest of humanity. This all places us in a difficult position, which you have so clearly identified for me. I don't think filtering some of this is bad. It's needed for survival.
One Avatar
December 17, 2023 at 11:38 AM
I remember this one, an excellent choice for the top 100 new poems.
Horn Avatar
December 4, 2023 at 11:31 AM
A truly touching poem with much feeling and emotion with love and devotion ocean to ocean
Chunn Avatar
November 29, 2023 at 7:45 PM
Very powerful and profound. You make the pain and suffering real. Very good write. Congratulations!
Lawrence Avatar
November 27, 2023 at 5:38 AM
Painful and revealing . Your big heart and your wise mind illuminate these horrors . Congratulations on your win Andrea . Your words poignantly paint the tragedies surrounding us. Hugs to you and hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.Susan :)
Dietrich Avatar
December 27, 2023 at 9:09 PM
Thanks, Susan. I hope your Xmas went well
Alex Avatar
November 26, 2023 at 8:55 PM
A very illustrative detail of nameless pains written dramatically. Congratulations!
Goldsmith Avatar
November 26, 2023 at 8:22 AM
Congratulations on your win. WOW!!! I enjoyed reading your amazing/beautiful yet sad "Nameless"write. Have a great/wonderful day writing away...........
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
November 25, 2023 at 6:33 PM
Very deep, Andrea, and very dark. Leave it to you to clue us in this sad truth. My compliments on your win in Constance's contest. Aloha, William
May Avatar
November 25, 2023 at 12:35 PM
Back with Congrats on your win Andrea
Peranteau Avatar
November 24, 2023 at 4:23 PM
i'm the terse writist my dear poet; when i gandered your title, yep, i peeked in on ya, and dannng vooman, i know plenty felt your write, even though you're hoping for the accolades, your artist shows! Deep Andrea! Oh, and a grand Happy Thanksgiving! me
Flood Avatar
November 22, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Like what everyone else said, Andrea. A superb write, almost painful, in itself, to read. So well depicted. Let’s hope we never get to know its name.
Roper Avatar
November 21, 2023 at 7:52 PM
Very powerful write. I fear for a lot of these actions because of the evil out there is especially in great scale.
Bauer Avatar
November 21, 2023 at 12:44 PM
wow! this is a powerful and beautifully expressed poem, andrea! your poetic prowess only adds to the overall effect - very impressive!
One Avatar
November 21, 2023 at 12:39 PM
I've not seen a poem like this from your pen before... This is an emotive one for the contest..
Kauffman Avatar
November 21, 2023 at 12:06 PM
Your poem has left me breathless, Andrea, with its depth and its emotion. A true reflection of the pain that evil causes in this, our, world. Best wishes for the contest. This is am important poem. Blessings for your Thanksgiving!
Narain Avatar
November 21, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Superb poem, Andrea. It is absolute truth. Happy Thanksgiving.
12
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