Rich Arsenault Poet Free verse

We are Bruised Apples

We are bruised apples
    lying on the ground
    hoping to be picked
    But day after day, 
        we are ignored, till we rot
    And feed the soil for next year's crop.

We are bruised egos
    as we go about our lives, either acting or reacting
    bumping against societal rules
    bumping against others, till we are black and blue
       inside and out
    Till we yell out, I want to get off this crazy ride.

We are bruised egos 
    yearning to be better, aching to fly
    but the walls close in around us, chocking us, boxing us in
    measuring us with it's strict standards 
    Till we submit and dare to dream again.

We are bruised hearts
    who dare to love, who risk rejection
    who risk getting hurt
    who dares getting our fingers wracked with a societal ruler
    till our hearts ache to love and be loved.

Will it ever happen? Will love find us?
   We ponder in the darkness, alone with our thoughts, our dreams, our hopes
   Till we get up and dare to love again
   Lest our heart shrivels and dies a slow death
   Incapable of feeling or loving, not even ourselves.

We are bruised souls
   That brave the arctic winter
   Of a world that is devoid of compassion.
   But the light in our heart, though but a flicker,
   illuminates the dark stains of humanity.
   That light is love and no darkness or coldness can extinguish it.

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William Alexander April 30, 2026 at 9:36 PM Yes, we have more in common than we are willing to acknowledge. But I, as a poet, will say that your words illuminate the dark stain of humanity. Continue expressing your gift to the world. {Your love.}

William Alexander April 16, 2026 at 9:55 PM Yes, we are bruised, and the word "apples" conjures thoughts of the Garden of Eden. But I will say I agree wholeheartedly. And also, we should never submit to dare to dream again. Until our hearts ache to love and be loved. (That is universal.) I love that line. Rich Arsenault April 19, 2026 at 7:56 PM Thank you, William for your kind words about this poem. I feel a lot of people can relate since we all experienced our limitations as humans. Despite our differences, at least we have that in common.

Beata Agustin April 16, 2026 at 3:15 AM Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed. Rich Arsenault April 19, 2026 at 7:57 PM Thank you, Beata for your warm words of welcome. As you are a woman of faith, please check out my latest poems, including Letter to God