Painting Eoin Llewellyn
Pacifism,
prison of the unknown.
When you’ve never punched anyone.
Felt face turn to stone.
Pushed beyond flesh
to find bone.
Never made someone’s vision
a temporary prism,
spinning cyclone.
When you’ve never settled a score.
Slammed fist through door.
Violence rumbles when ignored.
© 2022 | K.Hartless
d’Verse Poet’s Pub|Quadrille #160: Poems that Pack a Punch
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
“Slammed fist through door”. ouch. I did that many years ago and got a broken bone in my hand.
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Ouch. I have learned to control my anger, but it took many years. Still, I believe
violence has a voice, even if we chose to silence it.
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I agree. I have never broken another bone and controlled myself these days. ☺️
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Oh, that last line really packs a punch, doesn’t it! I love the punch of your rhymes here.
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Many thanks. This was a great topic to take us into. Appreciate it.
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My brother put about a million holes in his bedroom walls. Nice work, K
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I saw explosive anger as a child and so I thought that was right. But I’ve learned other ways, still it seems those emotions do need release somehow.
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This simmers nicely to the soft, disturbing end. Thought provoking!!
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Thank you. I often wonder if violence is natural and if so what are the repercussions of restraint. I appreciate your comments, Tricia.
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Thank you, John. Was hoping for the hook.
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My pleasure! 💗
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visceral verse; that ending packs a punch!
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Thank you, John. I needed it to land square in the jaw, so if it did that in the least I’m happy with it.
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that;s where I got whacked with the albatross 🙂 ouch 🙂
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Oh my! Is it good luck or bad luck when that happens?
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it’s a curse 😦
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Well said, K 🙂 It certainly does – your short staccato verses really add weight to that!
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Thank you. I was aiming for that so I’m so glad you noticed it. 😁
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K, you reminded me of Chuck Palahniuk’s book, “Fight Club.” Complicated philosophizing in your poem.
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Oh, I hadn’t thought of that novel in ages. Yes, I suppose you’re right. I’ve actually never punched anyone, but I wonder if my passive ways sometimes cause me to have bottled up anger and resentment.
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The struggle is real! 😉
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Oooooh. The philosophical lines here are brimming with so much thought. Especially that last one.
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Thanks you. This poem was a bit like a pinch and it came from somewhere deep inside and then just was what it was.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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I’ve never been violent myself, but I’ve seen it, even watched someone punch a door – never again. You’ve really captured hard violence in the lines:
‘Felt face turn to stone.
Pushed beyond flesh
to find bone.’
Scary stuff.
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Indeed. I can only imagine, as I’ve never landed a punch, but as a bottler I know about the explosion that can even turn inward, so I don’t know what the best answer is to expressing anger.
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I have been known to go to the beach and scream at waves. 😉
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Oh wonderful. I can imagine their rippling rebuttal.
😁
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I agree it’s easy to be a pacifist if you’re a nun, but for the rest of us, who have thrown punches (and received them) pacifism is learning how to express anger in a different way.
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Wonderful thoughts, Jane. Thank you. I am still on my quest to discover this ways, although I’ll say I’ve found many ways of letting go of my clenched fist moments.
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Unless you have the build for it (I haven’t) it’s best to hone words instead 🙂
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Love the end rhymes in this.
‘Never made someone’s vision
a temporary prism.’ – so vivid.
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Thank you, Marion. I can’t say I have done that, but I’ve thought about it.
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I know what you mean!
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Oou, that makes me hurt to think of it, or see the picture.
I couldn’t ever fight like that. Nicelly told though.
..
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Thank you. I don’t know if I have it in me either, but I sense the stir every now and again.
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Many thanks, Gillena. I stop need to get around to all the amazing quadrilles. A busy week, and I appreciate you stopping by. 💜
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Interesting; the last line particularly so
Much💛love
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Oh, so true!
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I’m a long term bottler, but even I explode when it comes to it.
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I wonder how many can be a pacifist and being on the receiving side being punched
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Yes, agreed. I can’t say I’ve ever been socked in the face.
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“Violence rumbles when ignored.”
Oooh, is that a truth! The quiet before…
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Thank you. Agreed. It’s all a matter of time…
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This reminds me that all emotion needs expression, and how we express it does matter. It also reminds me of a class in school where someone made the argument that all conflict in relationships is bad. I disagreed, as conflict when in any kind of relationship is unavoidable, it’s how we communicate that matters. Anger is similar, to deny it, is to deny our own humanity. Excellent piece, K. The cadence of the words is brilliant. 💜
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I really enjoyed the style you chose to express your thoughts..great examples and yes, I too believe withholding that first punch or jab..is the higher road
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