It's hard to tell a stranger quite how pissed off I can feel,
to always be the ‘fall guy' every time.
No matter how I act, or say, or do, it's never right,
my sense of who I am and how I'm seen, just never rhymes.
Inside my head I'm gentle, thoughtful, loving, even kind
Do anything for anyone, and never, ever mind.
Take insults with a smile and hold my tongue all of the while,
but no one gives an inch oh no they always take a mile!
I bite my lip when someone tells me that I've put on weight,
and smile the joker smile that hides the tears…
I'm nonchalant when telling them how many cakes I ate,
say nothing of the diets failed over oh so many years.
I never snap, I bite my lip and let the cruel words wash
right over me in seas of foaming bile,
My ego smashed, my heart in shreds, and yet I carry on
and fix about my face my stupid smile.
I'm looking in a mirror now and don't like what I see
this grinning, parody of life- I recognise as me...
All sweetness, sugar coated, wouldn't ever hurt a fly
about to change and rearrange the order all will die.
The school friend who would bully me and know I would not tell,
she will be the first to go-to be despatched to hell.
The teenage pal who tagged along ‘cause I made her feel good,
who stole my friends and did it all ' just because she could'.
Well she's the next to go and what a pleasure it will be
to bring her down a peg or two and give her misery.
And then that colleague that would spread bad rumours about me,
and when a work trip was arranged she'd make sure that I'd see
that everyone was going to go, but I was not a part…
Oh yes I will have fun with her
Just ripping out her heart……
And what about the boyfriends who cheated and who lied?
Who used me and abused me and then threw me to one side.
I'll search them out and slowly- but with such delicious joy,
will take each one of them apart -just like a broken toy.
And what about the goodly ladies of the local church?
Each one of them so holy and sincere….
Yet laughed at me and told the world that I sang out of tune...
It's their turn now to sing with raptured fear!
Yes I WILL change I tell myself, no longer be that mouse,
who hides in deep dark corners filled with fear,
I will become -I know I will, the mistress of my house,
As Dante said ‘abandon hope -all ye who enter here'!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Lodigiana I'm so glad I found this. It really caught me out with an unexpected change of gear. And darkly and deliciously so. You must have had fun and perhaps mixed feelings when writing it. And to end on Dante's famous phrase is a joy to behold. The dark icing on a dark poetry cake. Five stars and more than worthy of each. Many thanks and take care. Shaun.x.