Value Judgement | Teen Ink

Value Judgement

June 7, 2011
By Afanen PLATINUM, Santa Rosa, California
Afanen PLATINUM, Santa Rosa, California
49 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;But you see, Meg, just because we don&#039;t understand doesn&#039;t mean that the explanation doesn&#039;t exist.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> - Madeleine L&#039;Engle, A Wrinkle in Time


Tell me this is bad for us:

while I feel a lingering sweetness and smile

from a memory’s projector screen,

neutral as cotton binding the hurt she patched for me,

until her voice is infused the color of daylight,

a she-cat, lounging, purrs inflecting

each word to me, smooth like milk on

a spice burnt tongue, all for me.


Tell me this is bad for us:

as I wake sweating under the hands

of the past, and but for the weight of fingers

on my temples and the smell of almonds in my mind

I would rip my vocal cords to ribbons, fighting

the intangible dread; when my calendar turns to

difficult days, I don’t borrow the car or

take sympathy (pity),

I just wait and let her take the lead.


Tell me this is bad for us:

This? No. This is help and medicine, balm for

memory and slights and the hurts big and little.

Tell me that you are bad for us:

You might just be right.


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This article has 3 comments.


on Jul. 1 2011 at 3:13 pm
SMWells PLATINUM, Carlisle, South Carolina
22 articles 0 photos 294 comments

Favorite Quote:
Some truths best left unspoken.

Well sense you asked,yes. I actualy thought the ending was a little negitive. And it is just my expieriance with readers, that even an exelant poem doesn't go over well if it doesn't hold an unusual signifigance or have a positive or amusing ening.  But then again, my audiances are limited.  We live in a realatively small town, and evryone from the librairians to the DSS workers critic my poetry. I have often been told that my poetry tends to be gloomy, and they said they prefer my cheeful ones, but that my unexpected ending make the others pasable.  I hope this bit of information will be helpful. best wishes.

on Jul. 1 2011 at 1:15 pm
Afanen PLATINUM, Santa Rosa, California
49 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;But you see, Meg, just because we don&#039;t understand doesn&#039;t mean that the explanation doesn&#039;t exist.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> - Madeleine L&#039;Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

Thank you. Any suggestions for improvement?

on Jul. 1 2011 at 12:30 pm
SMWells PLATINUM, Carlisle, South Carolina
22 articles 0 photos 294 comments

Favorite Quote:
Some truths best left unspoken.

The poem needs work, but the way you said, hands of the past, was a true poets touch.