Red white black and blue,
She nursed the pain inside of you.
Red and raised from keloid skin,
don’t you know pain idol’s sin?
She keeps you bound,
you’ve so much to give,
do not listen,
this time forgive.

I dunno what the subject is trying to forgive itself for. Just that it is a rather bleak reference to more bloody cutting again. Seems a rather well referenced part of most of your posts. Is there more than this we should be gaining from this poetry?

This was written last night at 3 am so no its just a reflection of growth on my part and not going to the destructive things I used to but forgiving myself, and not making an idol out of my pain.

Aha. So the subject is you. What are you forgiving yourself about and "idol out of pain?" What does that mean. You worship pain? Whatever for?

Ha, now I understand. Very good Hannah. Bravo.

It is poetry - and if the poster - who is sharing her art form (by the way it is quite good) if she says she is not going to destructive things AND she is forgiving herself - then thankfully we do not have to worry - so I do not see why asking her to explain - out right - what she is forgiving herself for - is very good. I am happy she is forgiving herself , imo the last thing anyone needs is pain and then guilt and then more guilt.

I am happy that Hannaha wrote she is NOT making an idol of her pain. She will forgive herself!

(as you posted bloke - you mention why it is obvious to you what she is speaking of - for you, from you reading her other posts or "knowing" her I guess)/ maybe poetry is not your thing - what I mean is it seems odd to me that anyone would ask for explanation of a poem - there are any number of meanings - that is why poems are made)
PAIN is idols sin - very clear. If something is a sin - they know it is not good.
I thought the poem was very good. It should/could be published!

I agree with windy- nice poem Hannah

You are probably right in that perhaps poetry is not my thing. have published a few pieces and studied it at university but I do not think i am particularly good. I do get that poetry is allusionary and suggestive. Often it imbues metaphors and allegories and the like within a context that is understood by the poster.
As you can also probably guess i am not, as much as i may understand the concept of abstract thinking and what a poems purpose is as a literal device, but I am a concrete fact based person. I really such at deconstructing poetry. I like to know what it means. Not reading it on a superficial feeling way but what is meant by this bit and that bit? How does that relate to that and this. As much as what poems may have superimposed layers of shallower and deeper meaning, each poem is written by a person and that person has a context and a perspective that they are writing from. They are giving forth a believe or a desire to convey a message. A message that can be understood for what it is they are trying to say by understanding the context and perspective.
But Ok if you want me to say "Hannah it is a great poem that means nothing to me and i don't care to know what you mean but it read aloud very well and rolls off the tongue easily" I can do that.
Thought it showed a little more interest in asking and understanding. Will know in future and so long as everyone is happier in me doing that. I can do that.

I can't speak for Hannah, but I know when I write poems, its hard to explain them because I infuse them with so much meaning I'd have to write a book to completely deconstruct it, and sometimes i'm trying to articulate a feeling/experience/emotion that isn't even "rational" in the first place. ...If you are factual, as you state, then I'm guessing you are asking questions expecting a concrete interpretation from the poet... I would assume that if it was her intention to give a factual explanation she would have, and this would be a thread where she explained in detail her entire reflection on growth etc. Since she put it in verse, its logical to assume she intended to be less specific, and is not stating facts but is sharing part of her subjective experience as art form. Therefore its naive to expect a concrete explanation, unless your questions are of the nature "i dont know what that word means" or "did you capitalize that word on purpose?". There is, nevertheless, nothing wrong with trying...but its like asking an artist why they painted a lion, and why the tree is in the corner, and why the shade of gold used for the main is not brighter, etc.

But, given your explanation of why you asked those questions, I think it was really nice of you

This post was last modified: 06-13-2012 07:56 PM by sg1008.

Thanks. I am similarly naive when it comes to people speaking metaphorically and still get caught out. I used to have a couple of NT mates that would look out for this kind of thing when they could. When they saw me look back vacantly and start to colour and stammer they would call me over and quickly explain. Nice of them and never asked.
You are right too i am a fact-seeker. I thrive on knowledge and i guess stepping into the murky pool of abstract representations ought to be kept to a minimum

I look at poetry like a painting, except in code format.

Some paintings I don't like, some I do like, some I can make out the shapes, and some I have no idea what its a painting about. Sometimes I can paint a nice picture, but some people are just more talented than I lol.

As a side note, I don't get everyday metaphors as well as in a poem... In poetry I am prepared...I have the mindset. In daily conversation it catches me off guard, and I usually ask more questions.