Wednesday, July 13, 2016
The World is a Cruel Place
THE WORLD IS A CRUEL PLACE
The world is a cruel place
I see it all around me
And so does everyone else,
But we look the other way
For the beauty of the world soon fades
If all you can do is stay afloat
Without living
A young girl sits in class quietly
She doesn't talk,
Doesn't join in the chatter
A broken spirit shows through her eyes
Bruises, black and blue
Decorate her thin face
And she remembers the constant yelling
The shouts and screams,
The sensation of her life falling apart as she was taken away
A boy hides in the bathroom,
Broken and dejected
As he wipes away the tears that fall
Invisible scars forged from words
Decorate his mind, body and soul
He isn't accepted for being different
He's in love with his best friend
Why should he have to change that?
Constant name calling
Insults
That girl is fat,
It's surely not worth knowing her name
No one knows that she starves herself
And wears long sleeves
To hide the scars
A mother comes home after working twelve hours
She still hasn't heard back from her husband
And she gets a call that brings her to her knees
For she now knows why
A man holds a sign
Outside on the side walk
It's the dead of winter and he's chilled to the bone
But he's invisible,
A shadowy wraith against the wall
No one notices
No one walks another's path
No one else knows quite what it's like
And so they will continue to suffer in silence
Behind closed doors,
Through silent mouths and shattered eyes,
Broken hearts and damaged spirits,
For the world is a cruel place
And will be until we can live
And not just stay afloat
By: Zamira Sigel-Kulick
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This piece does a great job of showing how people often appear one way on the outside, but are really struggling on the inside. It makes me think if anyone is ever being their true self.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is haunting--so powerful. The idea of other people's suffering being invisible but still impacting the way we all live is really thought-provoking.
ReplyDeleteSuch dark and negative truths. Very impressive in my field of poem.
ReplyDeleteHow do I comment on such a strong poem. First, it is written to be read. The writing is right to the point. Now the emotions that flow forth have to touch some spot in all our souls. It may be a cruel world, but we each have the power to bring some joy, some love and a smile into another persons life each day. Try it, it gives the giver as much joy as the receiver. Zamira you are a wonderful writer. I will remember your name and look forward to reading your first novel.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this piece because you brought to light a lot of issues that people face on a daily basis. However, the last paragraph hit me in a way that no one should have to suffer in silence. Unfortunately there may be many people facing similar problems in there life but perhaps a simple smile can open doors to a true and lasting friendship to lift one's spirit.
ReplyDeleteRanger Kathy
It is true you can not walk another's path. This means that we can not judge another's actions until we have walked that path. Let us just be the best we can be as we journey on our path.
ReplyDeleteZamira, you have created a riveting piece of writing. In the process of sharing this work you have compelled the reader to be aware of the fact that all to often we don`t know what people are often grappling with in their personal lives. I liked especially the way in which you concluded your work with the last sentence that reads:"For the world is a cruel place ,and will be until we can live and not just stay afloat.
ReplyDeleteAnother outstanding post. Zamira I think you are truly empathetic to all of the kinds of suffering you describe so poignantly. You opened my eyes. My battle now is to keep them open. I've heard it said that no matter how great our burdens or struggles, we never feel better than when we reach out to someone else who is struggling. Maybe when we help to keep someone else afloat, we start to live.
ReplyDeleteYou are very perceptive of other people's struggles in life and so eloquently describe them in your poem. Hopefully people will remember that everyone has their own struggles they are working through.
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ReplyDeleteI love how you touch so many different scenarios in this poem. As you write about those who feel isolated in a cruel world--it makes the reader think of the importance of empathy. I love the line where you contrast the difference between "living and staying afloat." How many are just staying afloat?
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out for me? I love how you circulate the structure of your poem starting with "I", then a girl, a boy, a mother, a man and ending with "no one".
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know more? You are writing in the 1st person narrative, then switched to 3rd person and I think you may want to explore the 2nd person narrative by addressing the audience as "you" to call them into some action? This is just a suggestion.