You have no business
no right to
tell me how I feel.
I do what I must:
I open my eyes and pull
down the sky.
I bleed myself dry.
Here where reality is
brutal and exhausting,
we are connected by lies
and anger —
We are one again.
(c) Rob Goldstein 1984-2019
So powerful! “Bleed myself dry”. Love it!
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Thank you, Someone.
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powerful but painfully true!
Great art ❤
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Thank you. 🙂
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Amen to that! Certain behaviors should universally be off-limits because of the damage they cause (oddly enough, the very behaviors that seem to lead to positions of power), but no one can tell anyone else how to feel.
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Thank you, Josh. Telling us ‘how to feel’ and what to feel abuse. Teaching us how to understand and express what we feel takes a set of skills we need to teach in our schools. We used to call these courses ‘Civics’. I hope you’re in good health. 🙂
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Another poignant poem, Rob.
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Thank you, Robbie. Sometimes it takes decades to figure out a poem. I’m glad you found it poignant.
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Brilliant. Relatable. So real I can feel it.
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Thank you, Joey. You done made my day!
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Rob… Every word was already resonating with me. Then the gut-punch at the end. Gave me chills. Now I feel as well as see the image you made for this one. This is a beautiful pairing of work. Hugs on the wing.
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I finished this after our chat on Wednesday.
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Pos-i-lutely wonderful!
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Yep!
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Great poem, Rob! Thank you for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend. Michael
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Thanks Michael!
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You too, Rob! 🙂
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A stunning poem, Robert, with such raw and powerful emotion. ❤
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Thank you, Diana. 🙂
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I felt every word of that Rob and the pain in the moment. Powerful poem!
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Thanks Denise. I should probably include this in the history of the poem. I composed it in 1984, it’s written to my Mother on the second anniversary of her death.
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Sorry about your Mom, Rob. Knowing that adds to the emotion of it.
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Thank you, Denise. It was a long time ago. I have the distance I need to write about it, now.
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This is a very deep and emotional poem. Great job in getting every ounce of emotion to emerge through the words and art!
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Thanks Jan. making every piece count was exactly what I wanted.
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Very powerful, Rob.
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Thanks John. I’ve puzzled over this one for quite a few years.
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Exceptional, Rob. That is one fine piece of writing!
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Thank you, Mae! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
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Yes, we are violated constantly, on so many levels.
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I think many people are feeling violated these days. I feel spiritually and psychologically raped.
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Stunning 💜
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Thank you Willow. It’s amazing how we mature if we’re fortunate enough to reach our ‘senior’ years. I feel as if I finally understand what I was writing about in my 20’s and 30’s.
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It a wonderful feeling and let’s face it we need some pluses to make up for some of the negatives of aging 😃
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I never thought I’d say this but I would not want to be young again. It feels like my entire life was a preparation for now.
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Yes the thought of coping with all that has past again is scary.
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