Charles A. Gramlich
HARMLAND
Some will hate you,
because you helped them when they were down
and they can’t stand to have needed help.
Some will hate you,
because they are jealous of your success
even though they haven’t worked for their own,
because you have family and friends
and they’ve driven all of theirs away,
because you own things they don’t
and they won’t bust their ass like you did to get them,
because in your smile there are no knives
and you give to others while they take.
Some will hate you,
because you are Jewish, or Muslim, or Christian,
or none of the above,
because you are black or white, male or female,
gay or straight,
because you carry more weight than they think you should
or are thin enough for them to call you vain.
Some will hate you,
because they are bitter and unhappy,
angry at a world their own faults have turned against them,
because they demand respect but give none themselves,
because their own mouths are full of lies
and they think yours is too.
And when such people hate you,
know that hate is all they have.
-----
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Nice finish on this one, Charles. Well done.
ReplyDeleteCharles, that is excellent! Every point is true.
ReplyDeleteDon, thanks. I actually changed that line in response to some folks who didn't like the original. I agree, this one is much better.
ReplyDeleteALex, thanks. I appreciate that. It was written after a personal experience I had recently.
Beautiful in its feelings, true in its words. Perfect poem, I enjoyed it Charles.
ReplyDeleteWell, if hate is all they have, who am I to take it away from them?
ReplyDeleteAs someone who's not really a gater, I'm left to wonder if those who hate--at least to the level expressed here--actually find warmth and succor in such an odd emotion. I mean is it like a blanket in the middle of a cold, barren world? Does it have the inner warmth of a shot of bourbon?
Interesting thought.
Well said.
ReplyDeleteOceangirl, thanks very much. I appreciate it. It came quickly but in response to a strong emotion.
ReplyDeleteX-dell, I think it does for some of these folks. It's also a big trope used in fiction too, people who cling only to their hate to give their life meaning. Pretty much most revenge stories, if not all, have that kind of character, or eventually show that kind of character developing.
Keith, thanks, and thanks for visiting.
Nice work, Charles.
ReplyDeleteBest part? The final words.
ReplyDeleteVery well done. Cannot compliment this enough.
ReplyDeleteChris, thanks, man.
ReplyDeleteDeka, I think it's definitely a better last line than my original.
Ty, thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
Great piece!
ReplyDeletePerfect last line for the poem. And I love the title you gave it--"Harmland".
ReplyDeletePeace out ~ wonderful response poem. To what exactly, I dare not ask.
ReplyDeleteSolid... makes me wonder what or who inspired it. :)
ReplyDeletePaul R. McNamee, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Eagle, the title came from hearing a song where they were referring to "heartland" but the pronunciation sounded like "harmland" to me. I thought it was a very nice title for a poem.
Erik Donald France, an individual who I and some others helped but who then turned around and launched a vicious verbal attack against me. Just really nasty stuff. I'll probably talk more about it one of these days.
BernardL, thanks. See my response above to Erik about the cause. Some day I'll talk more about it probably.
most haters are not even aware that's all they have, or ever will :(
ReplyDeletein my younger days i could find some kind of sympathy for some of them; older now, i realize that, too, is a matter of their choosing... so i no longer care... but do watch my back - always
well said, charles!
Love love love this poem. Especially loved the truth of it. So good.
ReplyDeleteLaughingwolf, I know. I felt just as you did when I was younger. But I have tried approaching or helping such individuals, only to be burned and attacked. I now let sleeping dogs lie whenever possible, although still they seek you out.
ReplyDeleteCarol, thanks, it definitely feels very true to me.
Well done. Simple language leading to a profound conclusion.
ReplyDeleteTop notch Charles, I like the whole theme but especially the
ReplyDelete"because in your smile there are no knives
and you give to others while they take."
yeah, they feel everyone 'owes' them something!
ReplyDeletepraying you and yours are safe from storm 'lee'...
Love the ending line. Wonderfully done Charles!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Yes, a lot of truth there. And I've been through one or two of them myself.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what it is that turns friends to enemies and at some juncture in this piece think you hit on most of the reasons.
ReplyDeleteBut then to them who now dislike me and want nothing to do with me *shrug* I have learned to not go where I am not wanted and when the barbs of attack come I am usually out of range and don't feel the tiny stings. and hate does deliver a tiny sting when you really don't give a damn about someones opinion.
Travis Cody, I appreciate that. Definitely no high falutin language in this one.
ReplyDeleteDavid J. West, thanks. I have heard from a couple of others who liked that line especially well.
laughingwolf, so far so good on Lee. but there is supposed to be quite a bit more rain today. I'm sure we'll be OK, though.
Heather, thankee. Glad you enjoyed.
Randy Johnson, man it's amazing how some folks can hate.
Mark, the pain of this only came at the first, and I realized it was mostly surprise. Irritating more than anything I guess.
good to hear that :)
ReplyDeleteI like it a lot.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, Charles - and I needed it today, too. :)
ReplyDeleteHarmland is a great title and the poem hits the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteLaughingwolf, :)
ReplyDeleteJess, thanks! I appreciate it.
Kate, sorry to hear you needed it, but glad you liked it. :)
Oscar, thanks, I do like the title quite a lot.
A friend once liked to say, "You are not the target." Meaning if someone dislikes what they see in you, it's only what they're unable to accept in themselves. So don't take it too personally.
ReplyDeleteHate is something of a weapon. And here you have expressed that well.
ReplyDeleteYes it does deliver a bit of pain. You can strike back--you can strike back tenfold--but at no point will you feel the odious satisfaction that the attacker felt. You might feel acquitted to some extent, but all you have done is wrestle a pig in its home turf, which is something that a pig likes, to paraphrase Mr Shaw.
Yes... a wonderful piece that I understand very well.
Ron Scheer, I generally try not to, but it's not always easy.
ReplyDeleteeric1313, I know, and despite the urge to respond to this person in kind I resisted. I'm kind of proud of that.
Great poem, Charles.
ReplyDeleteI find myself wondering what provoked you to write it...or do I already know the answer to that?
Candy, you do. I shared a piece of the email from the person with the group one night.
ReplyDeleteSo, true.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I think so.
ReplyDeleteLove this poem! You really are the hardest working man in the literary business! You can do all the genres -- very cool.
ReplyDeleteTHIS
ReplyDeleteis a real poem!
This touches me
and makes me go
"YES."
I want everyone to read and understand this poem.
Charles, hope the rain has stopped or will soon in your hometown.
You are a true treasure
and friend.
Thank you!
Fond Aloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
><}}(°>
Your words are so true. Loved this Charles.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, thanks. I like to be flexible but I know I have things I'm much better at than others.
ReplyDeleteCloudia, as of Tuesday we had sunny skies and cool temps. Loving it.
Jennifer, thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Choral.
ReplyDeleteIntegrated.
Meaningful.
I understand and know the 'punch' of this one.
Glad you wrote it.
It resolves.
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ReplyDelete