an arrogance of manipulation

What a revelation if we all had to wear the observable....we'd, like we already do, get used to it. As usual, a great write. Hugs and peace, oral

Yes, perhaps... but at least we'd know completely 100% what we're dealing with!
Thanks for the read and leaving your thoughts, Oral... I appreciate it so much!  
🌹 - 💙
B

I hide plain sight
But honestly as my pea nrain allows

Superb as per usual standard  

You don't hide...  
YOU SHINE!!!  
(no arguing!!)
You're like that crystal that's hanging in the window. It's not always reflecting the sun, it's pretty just hanging there... BUT... When the sun does shine and it hits that crystal JUST RIGHT ... IT'S MIRACULOUS!!! A truly beautiful sight —
Rainbow prisms will bounce all over the place!!!
It's exquisite and unique.  

That's you, in my eyes.
🌈 🦄 🌹  
xoxoxoxo
-B

Thanks, Tim.
🙏🏻

My soul laid bare. I thought I knew pain until I see my reflection in the mirror you create with words.  
Have you no mercy?  
The violence of truth, beautiful poetry Blue.

Thank you so much for the AWESOME comments, and generous list add, Richard. I truly appreciate the eloquence in which you lay down your thoughtful insights. All my gratitude for that. I'm so glad you can feel and enjoy my little poem here....
It means a lot.

Much love and warm regards,
🌹 - B

Saddened by this revelation
and maybe i'm a wee bit more emotional because i just found out one of my new neighbors lost her husband.
However,
i've discovered over the yrs, that poetry sits especially, many of us are targets.  We bare our hearts on the cutting board and unfortunately there's always a butcher waiting to do his work.

Ohhh, that's a terrible blow, Tallen. I'm so sorry for the loss of your neighbor/friend . All my sympathies, my dear 🙏🏻    
    
I agree, wholeheartedly!! I KNOW what I appreciate and enjoy about poetry most, is when the poet is utterly open and honest; I also know that, that also means there are sharks attracted, like chumming the waters, to THAT honesty –Hoping to take advantage. NEEDING to take advantage. It's not only me that's a possible target but ANYONE with an aptitude of similar. Sadly, it's now, that it's more than apparent– with space and distance... I just need to write it out because there's seemingly no consequences, which is blood boiling; in it's frustration. 😤 It's so very true, that saying -    
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist" .... Hiding well within charismatic charm, IS the perfect hiding place.    
  
I thank you for such wonderfully potent and poignant sentiments of solidarity and your generous list add.  

I love love LOVE seeing you and wish you well, with thoughts of peace and joy sent your way ✨ 💫 ✨    
   
Warmest regards, my lovely friend    
-💙    
xo    
B

"Shards of betrayal" ... will I say it ... yes I will ... poetic gold ... great flow with this ... powerful ... but not fully of babbling rage ... poignant ... learned ... edifying to the reader ... to the betrayer ... excellent with its sustained cadence ...

I giggled at your "will I say it?" I loved that you did! Thank you so much for reading and your in depth comments, LilD. I always feel unsure and wishy washy (in a protecting myself kind of way) about writing from my heart of hearts; when tapping into an anger tendril or another not so pretty ( in a poetic sense) theme or subject matter.... So you elaborating in reassurance, that it's not fully a babbling rage... 100%, made me sigh in a relief that I really didn't know I was holding in, until I read your words and let it all exhale... So, I thank you wholly!! .... My gratitude and appreciation run deep for the generous list add, your time and as always, your amazing insights.

Much love and respect,
🌹-💙
B

You nailed it skylark! 100%
I appreciate you reading and your thoughtful comments. It means a lot to me to hear and to feel that solidarity, soothes. 🙏🏻
Much thanks for the generous list add.


a pleasure ✨
🌹 - 💙
B

Ohhh-NO, Susan! 😡    
 "HEAR-HEAR!"    
  Nothing makes my blood boil more quickly than some nefarious fool that cons their way into a tender, trusting, and giving heart, only to use them for their own vile agenda, casting them aside when finished, as though they are no more than valueless chaff … I've had this happen to those I care about in offsite life far too many times to be apathetic to it, not to mention my many numerous online friends over the years. Some, I've been able to come to the rescue of, some simply got their hearts broken and their feelings hurt – left, and I never saw them again, leaving me and all who loved, admired, and respected them destitute of their company and so very saddened … I still miss a lot of good folk because of it.  
   Still, as tough as it is, we all know there are no guarantees in relationships or love, on or offline … so, beware and prepare your hearts and souls for what may inevitably be your own fate, and enter at your own risk, knowing the chances you're taking, even as we know our need, by far, all too often, outweighs our good sense and fear.    
   Who was it said, "Better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all."  A wise man, indeed, but he was referring to true love gone bad, not the phony kind that is used unscrupulously on the hopeful, trusting, and innocent amongst us … and, most of all us were, at one time or another.    
   So very easily and quickly the last vestiges of pride and confidence driven happiness in oneself and a erroneously supposed loved-one, can be virtually annihilated by the thoughtless pomposity and empathetic nature of some heartless predator.    
     
Dear Lady Susan, you've really and truly delivered a most important message, one that should be inscribed in bold, red letters on the home page of every writing site.      
Brilliantly spake, Dear Poetess … highest respect and KUDOS! ⁓ Richard 🍃

It's 'tethered truth'— One that can be cut and freed anytime, like a helium balloon. That's how I think and believe a lot of online cretins see relationships and their interactions with other people. Consciously or subconsciously, who knows? I think they feel it's not tangible, is my best guesstimate. Unable (or unwilling) to reconcile REAL people ARE on the other end and ARE of flesh and blood. Whereas I am a heart on my sleeve, kind of person. It shows, obviously. I know this and have made my heart stonier because of it. (sadly!) It's not impermeable but I'm definitely 'batten down the hatches' secure... I have learned the hard way, to protect myself.  

It's not just lover's hearts that are trampled or relationships that are of a sexual or romantic nature....it's ANY relationship that is supposedly built upon trust and truths, only to be decimated....that is of abhorrence!  

I am so grateful for your honest, caring and enormous emotional support. Your capacity at understanding and seeing me, is so very appreciated... Thank you for the generous list add and all your lovely feedback, Richard. My heart soars, that there's still decency and goodness left out there... 🍃  
🌹-💙
Much love from across the pond ✨ 🌊  
-Susan

You, Susan ◄
  Inspire and cause me to think of and realize aspects of human nature I might not have otherwise. 🤔

Thank you graciously for opening my eyes just a little wider. 👀

Not all men and woman are like but the bad ones ruin it for all the other respectable people.  Keep on writing.

You really nailed it completely, Francisco! I think you said it better than I did! Well done!
🌹 - B

Oh honey there are all kinds of predators. My Mom was swindled by her very suave and debonair cousin out of a million dollars. There are predators who steal your dignity and those who take your resources. And it can be very hard near impossible to recognize them before they rob you.

Xo
John

Those predators are crafty, indeed.... no doubt.  
So am I, now that I have had my eyes opened to the ways of the world. I'm not jaded, I'm cautious.... which is sad but necessary.
I thank you so much for your lovely comments of solidarity and I very much appreciate the list add.  

You are positively awesome,my friend 🙏🏻
🌹-💙
-B

Yes you have the most enduring soul xx mate xx

I really do appreciate your capacity for capturing my attention with your comments... Thanks for leaving me your thoughts and for your extremely generous list add... I'm grateful.
🌹 - B

You really do bring out a beautiful aspect of observation with psychological analysis in verse. I loved the second stanza with the "shatters/shards" sound to emphasize the feeling.

Great work.

Ohh wow, thank you so much for feeling my vibe and for your extremely kind remarks.





You're extremely kind and I'm so grateful! 🙏🏻
🌹 - 💙