Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |
Rhyme | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Red Ink

They say that stones and sticks are all that harm,

          But words can wreak more spoilage than a gun,

     And much more veiled and vexing to disarm ...

While lead bullets shatter faces,

     Well-aimed words find deeper places,

          And phrases of faultfinding said in "fun",

               Can bleed an ink of red from insult's arm.



Well-crafted words can change life in a wink,

     And transform ragged rain to heaven's tears,

          But just as quickly bring you to the brink ...

               And like a spoken arrow,

          Can saturate the marrow,

     Thus draining hope before it e'er appears ...

And clotting in a pool ... of reddened ink.




~ 1st Place ~  in the "Rhyme Time 6 - Verses Of Metaphors" Poetry Contest, Laura Loo, Judge & Sponsor.

Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2018

Please Login to post a comment

Beautiful Scars Date: 9/11/2018 5:54:00 AM great rhythm and rhyme! Love the layout too, beautifully expressed dear Gregory..thank you for your participation and congratulations on your placement...:)-luloo Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 9/19/2018 3:36:00 AM Thank you so very much, Luloo, I am honored and humbled by my placement, and this was such a wonderful and fun contest/project! You don't visit my poems much anymore, (and I miss your comments), so this is how I sneakily get you to come by, hehe! Blessings, my friend! :-) <3

Jesse Rowe Date: 9/1/2018 8:21:00 PM Absolutely loved this poem. Nina already mentioned the line, but "much more veiled and vexing to disarm" is such a perfect phrase. Congrats on your top win. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 9/7/2018 8:51:00 PM This is very kind of you, Jesse - thank you so much, my friend! :-)

Nette Onclaud Date: 8/30/2018 4:09:00 AM a gripping read on the power of language....well done, gregory!..huggs Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 9/7/2018 8:46:00 PM Thank you so much, Nette - blessings! :-)

Joanna Daniel Date: 8/30/2018 2:46:00 AM Words can hurt more than anything, well written, Greg:) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 9/7/2018 8:46:00 PM You are so right, Jo - they do more damage than war sometimes. Blessings and thanks to you! :-)

Brandy Nicole Date: 8/29/2018 9:50:00 PM Red is one of my favorite colors. :) Just saying. The color of the font in my email is red. :) Concerning your thoughts here: Words either heal or they hurt. We all have a choice in how we use our words. Whether to uplift another, or keep them grounded. ~ Brandy Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 9/7/2018 8:45:00 PM This is so very sweet, Brandy, and I thank you so much for your heartfelt words! I love red as well, and all my Windows theme colors are red ... another way we are alike. Blessings and love to you, Dear Poet! :-) <3