Guilt

To have a soul is deadly!

Muddy waters

wash over

crimson cracks

in my armour,

seeping coldly

into the spaces

between each

ivory rib.

There they settle,

tepid and brackish

to fester and spawn

so much resentment,

so much stinking

murky, anger.

Like necrotising fasciitis,

eating away

at my already plundered

soul.

Leaving a corpse

stripped

of any and all

dignity.

 

09/03/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Skal]

If I'm told to describe guilt, here is the perfect description. Nice one!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Skal

[Relic]

Your comparison of resentment and anger to necrotizing fasciitis is an excellent metaphor. Our brains are often plugged in the wrong outlet, causing us to suffer without proper cause. This can affect the whole body if it mounts too high: ask any psychiatrist or doctor.

Nicely done, John. That old saying - 'learn from my mistakes' - could easily apply to this.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so Sir, many thanks.

[kitty]

Why cry over spilt milk? Why should you care if the cat will enjoy the taste!?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Good question Kitty. Many thanks.

[kitty]

Why indeed!

[Dave]

How powerful! Guilt can tear one apart. Isn't it best to simply move on and to try not to repeat ourselves?

Take care - Dave

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Dave, poetic licence is very useful!

[Mrudula Rani]

Necrotising fasciiitis, flesh eating bacteria is an excellent comparison to guilt. John, To have a soul is like being in front of relentless jury, that nitpicks each and every thoughtless thing and makes you prone to an endless self examination.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Aye MR, especially a Catholic one. Many thanks.

[Mrudula Rani]

some of us are born with a hiperactve conscience, I think.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Agreed, but in a Catholic it is reinforced ten fold.

[Monroe]

Fit for such a dreadful nasty feeling. Guilt eats us alive.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed it does. Many thanks Monroe.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

really like the death references here....more than just a body that can die...a heart, a will, a soul...
love the vocabulary in this one...the personification is strong.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Jacob and thankfully a great measure of poetic licence was applied!