-- Shame --

by John Herlihy

We harbor within us a host of emotions,

As a seething cauldron of emotive potions.

To stir within a sense of pleasure and pain,

That arouses within a sense of loss or gain.

Humiliation and embarrassment and guilt,

Running through us as a river of thick silt.

Each one as a poison at the tip of a spear,

Each one a premonition the devil is near.

Personal weakness such a tortuous thing,

Stirring a frothy brew their effects bring.

Wavelets rising up upon our inner shore,

Feelings of longing and regret and more.

Humiliation strikes with a sinister wand,

As night wind stirs moonlight on a pond.

To attack honor with a mark of disgrace,

As the wax of a candle melts in its place.

Stand naked to the world we feel shame,

We accept ownership, no one to blame.

A nightingale dies as another better sings,

Glory not proud as humility shame brings.

We suffer guilt, we know we did wrong,

Embarrassment brings sour notes to song.

Even humiliation offers its feelings rough,

But shame, lonely shame, shameful enough.

Some deeds have induced feelings of shame,

The human condition bears this singular name.

As a form of protection, we cover naked skin,

The prospect of shame may keep us from sin.

The wash of shame feels the brunt of its flush,

With sorrow we cry, with shame we will blush.

Mocking us with its feelings of harsh ridicule,

We are but uncut diamonds, a flawed jewel.

Shame throws us down as lowest of the low,

As if we not be good enough, just a bent bow.

On our noble brows, shame should never sit,

Our foreheads crowned over eyes brightly lit.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Sunday 9 June 2024