Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |
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To the Slanderers

Oh, the folly of words, false!
     Lies, rumors, hate, jealousy ...
          Anyone who utters or listens to gossip,
               Or takes it to heart as the truth, (forsooth),

     Is doomed to be the fodder for such themselves ...
          For by accepting its laurels and consequences,
               They are condoning the perpetuation of hearsay and falsehoods,
                    And letting others know that they're of questionable motivation,

          And highly questionable character.
               Those who believe bad things about you,
                    Simply on the word of a third party,
                         (Even those things, arrows and slings, that are in opposition

                         To the kind of person they KNOW you to be),
                    Shall be reserved their own special place of judgment.
               No mistake, the Universe is in perfect balance ...
          Chaos is simply a disguise for all that is unknown,

                    So the "friends" who smile to your face,
               But spread deceit and hatefulness behind you,
          Are not only no friends at all ...
     But are the kind of people that grease the gates of Hell ...

               The kind who shall someday find their sorry selves
          On the tip of their own vicious, spiteful spear,
     Twisting in the wind of dire consequence,
Their lies and evil intent bleeding out ...

               Into a pool of karma ... cold.




~ 2nd Place ~  in the "Karma" Poetry Contest, Line Gauthier, Sponsor.

~ 2nd Place ~  in the "Societal Discontent" Poetry Contest, Brendan J. Simons, Sponsor.

Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2017

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Sandra Haight Date: 5/3/2018 8:53:00 AM Back again, Gregory, to see this awesome poem deservingly shine once again! Congratulations on your win. Sandra :) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/29/2018 1:49:00 AM Very sweet of you, Sandra ... thank you so much, Dear Poet! :-) <3

L. J. Carber Date: 5/1/2018 2:06:00 PM Wow! It's strong, Gregory, and I love, man, really love your definition of chaos as ' disguise for all that is unknown'. Congrats on your win! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/29/2018 1:48:00 AM Many kind thanks, LJ, I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and especially liked that phrase, as it is one I live by. I do not believe in chaos - I believe EVERYthing has order, we just can't always SEE or understand it. Blessings! :-)

Susan Gentry Date: 4/30/2018 8:09:00 PM Ahhh yes... murder by character assassination. Twisting in the wind of dire consequences... like this, like it all. Congratulations for another win! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/29/2018 1:46:00 AM Thank you so very much, Susan, I greatly appreciate it! Blessings! :-) <3

Line Gauthier Date: 4/30/2018 5:09:00 PM I was judging this with new eyes... yet I now notice I have visited this poem a couple of times before. LOL. The perks of being a senior with senior moments! Congrats on your win again, Gregory. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 5/29/2018 1:46:00 AM Thank you so very much, Line - I know the feeling all too well! Blessings! :-) <3

Susan Gentry Date: 4/18/2018 8:26:00 PM Congratulations on your win with this inspirational poem! If we could all live up to this... Always used to say 3 sides to every story... now i believe there's many, many sides mostly unknown. Impressive way with words you have. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 4/30/2018 1:53:00 AM Very true, Susan, and well-said! Thank you very much for the sweet comments, I so greatly appreciate them, my friend! Blessings to you! :-) <3

Barbara Barry-Nishanian Date: 4/18/2018 8:59:00 AM Two faced individuals and those with forked tongue's ignore advice I appreciate from Bible, about .."as long as it depends on YOU..be peaceable with all men." These fail this responsibility. You...dear friend are amazing! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 4/30/2018 1:52:00 AM This is such a wonderful comment, and I thank you so much for the kindness, Barbara ... you're pretty special yourself! :-) <3

Subimal Sinha-Roy Date: 4/18/2018 4:00:00 AM Congratulations, Greg on your win as usual. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 4/30/2018 1:51:00 AM Thank you, Subimal! :-)

Sandra Haight Date: 4/17/2018 7:23:00 PM Oh, if every human heart and soul could absorb your wise words of wisdom, what a kind world this would be, Gregory. Love your poem, and I congratulate you on your well-deserved podium win. Sandra Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 4/18/2018 1:49:00 AM That's so very nice of you, Sandra, and you are always so generous and sincere ... blessings and thanks, Dear friend! :-) <3

Line Gauthier Date: 4/17/2018 4:00:00 PM Back with well deserved congrats, Gregory. Well done. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 4/18/2018 1:48:00 AM Many thanks to you, Line - blessings! :-)

John Hamilton Date: 4/17/2018 3:09:00 PM Another win with this message of truth! Thanks Greg for the entry! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 4/18/2018 1:48:00 AM Thank you so much, John - so greatly appreciated, Sir! :-)

Line Gauthier Date: 11/28/2017 10:14:00 PM That was a cathartic read. Thanks, Gregory. Well done. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 11/29/2017 2:34:00 PM Very kind of you to say, Line, thank you muchly! :-)

Ralph Sergi Date: 11/28/2017 5:11:00 PM Wow, Great, Gregory! Like a thesis on slander. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 11/29/2017 2:34:00 PM Thank you, Ralph ... blessings and a slander-less life to you, friend!

John Hamilton Date: 11/28/2017 1:03:00 PM Just wonderful Greg, hard hitting truth telling, yes we will reap what we sow, powerful write! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 11/29/2017 2:33:00 PM Indeed, John, you are correct my friend ... and thank you!

Silent One Date: 11/28/2017 9:59:00 AM I work in an industry where slander and defamation come at a cost.. There are so many two faced people in this who love to back stab.. If only everyone practised socrate's triple filter test... Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 11/29/2017 2:33:00 PM I try to ask myself before I do or say or type anything: Will this hurt myself or anyone else in any way? And if so, (or I don't know the answer), I put it off and think a while on it. I am far from perfect and have a long way to go in that regard, but I'm trying to do better. Thank you for the comment.

Judith S Date: 11/28/2017 5:21:00 AM Wow Greg! What an amazing write here!! And such an important message to heed. There is no good intent in speaking ill of people or in being swayed in your opinions by devil tongued individuals. Be strong enough to make your own judgement and always look for the light in people. Loved this work of art! ~Judy Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 11/29/2017 2:31:00 PM That's very sweet of you, Judy, and I thank you so much for the kind comments ... gossip hurts EVERYone, those who say it, those who listen, those who keep it going. Blessings, Friend! <3