Poetic texts are beautiful heart stopping messages when you receive one from the love of your life. Knowing that each word was chosen with care makes it so much more of a loving message.
We’ve all sent romantic messages which we would not want anyone other than the recipient to see. Private expressions of love and lust. Flirty wordplay. Pleas and promises.
Roses Are Red, Violets Are blue….You Love Me and I Love You
Harmless exchanges between two people.
Harmless?
But when those same poetic texts get released into the public domain, they suddenly seem cheap and embarrassing. Loving words lose their rosy glow and reveal the gaudy plastic beneath once exposed to the glare of ridicule and analysis.
Royalty and celebrities, sportsmen and dignitaries – anyone who rises above life’s parapets – must regret penning or typing those gooey sentiments once the shine has rubbed off a relationship. What would be an office giggle for a day or so becomes a media storm when you are a “celeb”. The chance to embarrass someone who has “risen above” the rest of us brings out the worst in the gutter press.
There have been messages and poems written by people famed for things other than writing appear in public recently. Poetic texts revealing the writer’s desires, the private language the couple are comfortable with. Poems written by actors and sportsmen. All held up for scrutiny – inviting ridicule and derision for lines which actually are not that bad, and are often not our business anyway.
A recent court case apparently necessitated the publication of private messages. They appeared in newspapers and online. Who decided that? Who wanted to embarrass the other? How much money changed hands?
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, I Love You – But I Love Her Too
Vengeance in the Public Domain
The sweetest break-up pay back must be forwarding love poetry to “interested parties” – like revenge porn without the risk of prosecution. Especially if there is another love interest already installed. No-one wants to see the sweet nothings that their current was sending the ex!
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, She’s So Much Better In Bed Than You
When Words Become a Sword!
Then there’s the times when the fickle, wandering S in WORDS turns them into a SWORD!
Words used as a sword can take longer to heal than bruises. Most people react to physical pain with anger, lashing out in return and burning up the adrenaline. A blazing row allows both sides to shout words which they would not use in measured speech. They have burned off the heat. And both have said things they wish they had not.
But they are equal.
Sometimes it is One–Sided
Not everyone allows their tongue such freedom. Nor can the tongue always answer back. The cold, slow spreading venom of an unchallenged verbal assault leaves the recipient doubting their own self-worth. The confidence shattering barrage of cruelty rattles and scratches its way around the psyche, growing and festering, staining the days or months ahead with dark self-doubt.
Receiving such wounds on a personal phone or computer is the rape of a private space. It takes a strong personality to delete and forget – and then not to fear each message alert. Carrying around a source of shame, allowing the dark insidious messages to drip their filth into the spirit.
Scratches Are Red, Bruises Are Blue, Want A Few More? I Bet You Do!
Although a bruise is obvious, carrying a phone with spite calling from the screen is humiliating. No-one can see the message. And yet it feels screamed to the world. It is a dirty little secret, an uneasy conspiracy between bully and bullied – the latter possibly more afraid of revealing the truth.
A verbal assault in the home suddenly changes a safe haven into a place of tension. Familiar objects in the line of sight during the attack trigger memories and repeat the words back.
Physical violence is something that the world quite rightly unites against, but that same world will read the nastiest words and – just for a second – stop to wonder if they have truth in them. There is something about words that gives them authority. They will glance at the victim with an unspoken question before gathering themselves to offer support.
It is emotionally safer to bear the abuse alone.
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, I know Where You Are…I’m Following You
The shame of revealing it can be more difficult than hiding it.
Poetic Texts can Bite Back
It’s sad – but you have to totally trust the recipient of your more heartfelt messages. Or be prepared to see them again should things go wrong.
Your Face Will Be Red, Your Language Blue, When You See What I’ve Told The Press About You!
Words can be powerful weapons! Use them with care.
People with dementia can use harsh words – they cannot be held responsible for them but it can still hurt to hear it. Help your family through with this eBook “Why Doesn’t Granny Know Me Now?” Using my experience as a Dementia Care Coach, Midday Supervisor at a Primary School and Mother, I have written an eBook explaining dementia to children. Three fun rhymes with informative text will open the door to honest discussion.
Here are some short poems.
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