I Take My Tea With Hemlock

A poem about love, betrayal, blackmail, and star-crossed lovers.

I Take My Tea With Hemlock

Death threats are delivered with a friendly smile 
"How ya doin? Haven't seen you in a while." 
Mutiny's in this season. 
With autumn comes change; 
A beginning, but also an end. 
The leaves turn and fall away 
Like all of our friends. 
Just give me one reason. 
Ask me again how far would I go 
To keep you safe. 
The curtains come up, they want a show; 
We're shoved on stage. 
They'll feed you your lines 
Don't miss a word 
Just put on a smile 
And no one gets hurt. 
"Come now, Romeo, we know what's best." 
"Now give her this poison and leave her for dead." 
Well I'll take their poison, their sugary cyanide, 
Swallowing it along with my pride. 
But I was born to rage, I won't die tonight. 
Juliet speaks not, but she riots inside.

 

Reviews

[Adam Adams]

That's intriguing ... way interesting to be read.
It's always damn freaking amazing to read when it comes to "love", "poison" and "tea" .. I believe, love's itself a poison that either gives anew breath to heart & stirs its venom to its beats (when it gets broken or shattered in love .. in misery .. in memory of love) .. very thoughtful and poetically beautiful poetry you pen'd up. Great job!

[Briana Noël Manzano]

Thank you! I'm flattered that an intriguing poet such as yourself is so intrigued by my own writing :)

[Adam Adams]

It's just .. simplistically the magic of your poetic hands that brushed the spiral pad notebook so well ... with such a humor of love-breeze. Always looking forward to read what's hidden deep in your heart.

I kinda like the topic you chose to write on. If you have some more plans to share tea and poison then don't negotiate to write on it more ... am quite bewitched to read on it. Why don't ya write its another version under title: "I Sip My Tea With Menfolk" ...

... very prolific title it is .. no? You may swing the wing of your knots & get swung away with another poetry. Have a good luck & some faith in ya ...

..looking forward to read you!

[emipoemi]

What? All this talk of hemlock and tea and no mention of Socrates.....maybe it would have added unnecessary humour (ok). But maybe it wouldn't have to if done right (no?)

This is marvellous! You may have not been able to include the Ancient Greek philosopher, but you did manage to superbly reference Romeo and Juliet! The whole poem is thought-provoking in a lot of ways, and I applaud you for this creation! Well done!

[Briana Noël Manzano]

Thank you! Socrates is one of my favorite historical figures, actually. The reason I didn't include him has to do with the circumstances of this poem. I wrote this about, and sort of for, my lover at the time. Hence the Romeo and Juliet theme. But the choice of hemlock as my poison of choice was due to an inside reference involving one of said lover's biggest art projects. You'll notice that I tend to write for myself instead of for an audience. I include personal/inside references that are related to my life, that the reader may interpret as they will. Perhaps this is selfish. But writing is sometimes the only way I can cope with my feelings.

[emipoemi]

It's the same with a bunch of poets out there. You're not alone. And it's not quite so selfish so long as you use that story and weave it into a more coherent maze throughout the poem, and then play with fun themes (like hemlock and tea = Socrates), which in some way are inside references, given only those who know that fact of history would get that.