Bitter is a Boat Anchor

Be an upper

                                                        

I've seen it so many times--it takes over so many lives.

It is a quagmire, and cuts deeper than a thousand knives.

It's harder work to hang onto hate, than to just let it go.

being bitter is a choice--it should be yes, and not no.

 

I see it everyday, people standing under a black cloud,

self-imposed of course, with negativity spoken out loud.

I should know, hey, I've been there, done that.

My luck at times has been bad--it's fallen flat.

 

I know at times it's hard to keep your head above water.

Sometimes it feels like you're just a lamb to the slaughter.

It's so easy to give in to the darkness, give in to despair,

sometimes you feel like you're caught in a nightmare.

 

It's too damn easy to lose the real you, and become a downer.

Because it will slowly wash away the upper that you were.

But don't give in to darkness, don't let it eat away at who you are,

don't ever change, and let yourself be defined by a mental scar.

 

Bitter is a boat anchor that you are trying to pull around.

From that black cloud above you, the rain pours down,

and floods your heart, your soul--decide to not let it win.

Because, no matter how dark it seems, the sun will shine again.

 

Reviews

[Rachelalala]

I like the overall idea of this poem. My favorite was the last stanza, and my favorite line was "bitter is a boat anchor that you are trying to pull around". That feels so right, hanging onto your bitterness and letting it weigh you down, carrying it with you every where you go.
The rhyming felt a little forced, like you were making up lines just to make them rhyme. I hardly ever venture into rhyming poetry, unless the words just come easily and don't sound forced. I like to just write lines about the same length as yours, but put so much feeling behind them that it doesn't matter if it rhymes, maybe give that a go and see how you like it? You might come up with some really powerful stuff.
Anyway, great job. Keep at it.

[Michael Stevens]

Thank you much!