Backhanded Poems | Examples

Premium Member I Am

A believer in God
killing babies fun fun fun
rape, well I blame all sides

Forgive
my hate
and ignorance
and silence when it maters

I have traveled no where
have no conscience
love those who disparage the weak
the weak are terrorist
the nerve of them to speak

I have no heart
a heart requires pumping blood
empathy is for other fools
no one cares
who drowns under Zionist floods

I have no voice
other than among peers
who love their rifles
more than they fear Gods cheer

My sword is a Tommyhawk
empty words and
backhanded slaps
if you hate I am yours

I am in good company
amongst all the silent ones
indifference is my medal of honour
I am America







I am none of the above
I have a heart

Premium Member The Name's Illness, Mental Illness

The faceless name of stigma
with more eyes than not
go side steps and looks
there, media begot

Whose singing and slur
with stick and with stone
the backhanded harm
confiding to home

With strength that’s locked up
minds reeling to shout
the jangling of keys
to let that strength out

It’s a tentative stride
walking into the frame
those keys are our tools
to win back our name
Form: Quatrain


Premium Member White Lie Birds

Backhanded compliments are meant to disturb
Yet on surface pretend to be a polite white bird

Giving fake hazel humor or slighted cranberry concern
When the person pretending to teach needs to learn

Learn the lessons of southern hospitality amber and
If you’re guessing know you can catch these hands
Form: Couplet

In Honor of Milt

Backhanded Apology
Copyright © L MILTON HANKINS | Year Posted 2022

Sorry if I upset you,
I really didn’t mean it
Actually, I meant it
Until I saw it upset you,
Now I’m sorry you are
Upset by my words
But I got them said,
Which I intended to do.


L. Milton always impressed me with his sly humor amidst mostly very deep, spiritual thoughts. “Backhanded Apology” is  one of his well-read pieces at 742 views. This apology is perfect for a very public person who is subject to personal remarks which could be double entendre at the outset.  Milt was a fine person, likewise an excellent poet whose comments on my work were always positive and supportive. A Kentucky bluegrass native myself,  I applaud his choice of retirement residency in Ashland; it is close to his roots in WV. We will all miss him at Poetry Soup.

January 3, 2023

Premium Member Congratulations

Dear recipient,

Out of all the apologies for poems written in the last several days, the algorithm has selected yours for POTD. As always, we are working to improve the algorithm. Oh, and congratulations!

AI

----------

H/T to Backhanded Apology by Milton Hankins, with a grin :-)
Form: Prose


Premium Member Backhanded Apology

Sorry if I upset you,
I really didn’t mean it
Actually, I meant it
Until I saw it upset you,
Now I’m sorry you are
Upset by my words
But I got them said,
Which I intended to do.

Written September 12, 2022
POEM OF THE DAY
Poetry Soup
September 14, 2022

Selfish Addiction

What does addiction do to the children with no choice
with four boy’s I was the youngest none had a voice
seeing a father in handcuffs wanting to say goodbye
As he bent down the smell of alcohol was magnified

I saw a mother in trouble but to small to help her distress
I saw a brother beaten bloody, none of the four had rest
I saw a small boy walk by then backhanded to the face
I saw hate in his heart never to leave his addiction 

Living in fear of one never forgetting his feelings of anger
How can one take another placing them in mental danger
He only saw his own face as if we were all strangers
Death became him in a trailer fire not one tear did I sob

Contest: Addiction
Sponsored By: Rob Levasseur
Date Created: 12/23/2020
Form: Rhyme

I'M Fasting

Big SIGH... 
Because y'all know the what, 
but you have ABSOLUTELY 
no concept of my why.
And, I don't have time to explain, 
because... I'm FASTING!  
From your misunderstandings, 
and your misguided attempts to "help".  
From your busy body concerns, 
that would be better directed to your whelps.
It's NOT about weight loss 
and, it's NOT really about food. 
I'm FASTING from lack of control, 
and that, Sugar is a whole mood.  
I'm not here for senseless debates... 
I'm FASTING.   
Your trifling gossip either, 
because I'm FASTING. 
Your backhanded compliments? 
I'm FASTING from that too. 
And, if that's how you roll,
you might wanna consider 
FASTING from that too, Boo. 
That means...  
I'm FASTING from your , 
so that I can better focus on my  ....
and for me to do that, 
my focus can't be split.  
So, your petty mess?... 
I'm FASTING. 
You topping off my stress?... 
I'm FASTING. 
You got the "tea"?
Well.... unless it's pertaining to, 
HIS grace, everlasting...  
Don't bring it to me, 
because chances are, 
I'm FASTING.
Form: Rhyme

Backhanded

“All you can be is all you can be,”
damning with faint praise

A lover, not a girl to wed
—left hand falsely raised

(Dreamsleep: March, 2020)
Form: Rhyme

Mr Sandman

The Sandman woke me up late last night.
I rocketed myself from the pillows.
Seeing him I groaned,
and slid back beneath the hood of blankets

He walked across the bedspread;
Knocked on my forehead with his cane.
With gritted teeth I sat up straight.
I explained his presence was not needed
                                                     “So Shooooo”
I set him at the foot of the bed and snuggled in my sheets.

He stubbornly stood up and made his way in my direction.
Stealthily climbing the pile of decorative pillows,
he rapped my nose.

Anger covering my face, I rose again.
I backhanded him across the floor!
He stood, shaking the loose sand off his coat;
still of one piece and just as mischievous as before.
I broke the night with my screech of rage!

I took Mr. Sandman in my hands
crunching him down to the dust he was.
I opened the bedroom window and blew him into the night.
Someone else’s problem now.

The Burning

thr ones that were my own
are the ones that did disown
laying down a judgeful Hammer
but not understanding or reasonable
with the truth they were handed.
their lack of Faith in me and disregard
only gives them discredit
how they spit in my face and shame me
time after time..
yes i am one who is damaged
they threw the first stone
and they are not Without sin..
thought they would learn this parable i landed
but instead, by it, got backhanded
tired of being oppressed and accused
Faithless asses are they that gave my heart a bruise
keep tune and now see what God will do
as wrath pours out and im the one ständing amused
stupidity companied by hypocrisy
they never knew me to begin with
yet they fire off at me
about to explode in my anger
so i keep them far from me
until i see them on the true judgement day
let us hope and pray
i am merciful in my wake
and im sure nobody likes to swim in a burning lake

Premium Member A B C Dunk

Amazeballs
Backhanded
Calibration


AP: 2nd place 2020

Submitted on February 19, 2019 for contest A THREE WORD POEM sponsored by BOBBY MAY  -  RANKED 2ND
Form: ABC

Premium Member The Moody Hues

backhanded mood ring
   leaves a mark
   on the calendar 



MagiCicada13
Form: Senryu

Backhanded Compliments

backhanded compliments 
became the standard practice 
within our maladaptive version of normalcy 
which fell dependent upon 
a series of inconsistent 
swings in mood experienced   
within a single conversation 
which over time became the way 
of our world
Form: Lyric

Blindsided By

through out the years
seemed to be 
constantly blindsided by 
backhanded compliments
made that were fuelled by 
pent up resentments
Form: Lyric

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