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!
Thank you, Someone.
powerful but painfully true!
Great art <3
Thank you. 🙂
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.
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. 🙂
Another poignant poem, Rob.
Thank you, Robbie. Sometimes it takes decades to figure out a poem. I’m glad you found it poignant.
Brilliant. Relatable. So real I can feel it.
Thank you, Joey. You done made my day!
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.
I finished this after our chat on Wednesday.
Pos-i-lutely wonderful!
Yep!
Great poem, Rob! Thank you for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend. Michael
Thanks Michael!
You too, Rob! 🙂
A stunning poem, Robert, with such raw and powerful emotion. <3
Thank you, Diana. 🙂
I felt every word of that Rob and the pain in the moment. Powerful poem!
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.
Sorry about your Mom, Rob. Knowing that adds to the emotion of it.
Thank you, Denise. It was a long time ago. I have the distance I need to write about it, now.
This is a very deep and emotional poem. Great job in getting every ounce of emotion to emerge through the words and art!
Thanks Jan. making every piece count was exactly what I wanted.
Very powerful, Rob.
Thanks John. I’ve puzzled over this one for quite a few years.
Exceptional, Rob. That is one fine piece of writing!
Thank you, Mae! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
Yes, we are violated constantly, on so many levels.
I think many people are feeling violated these days. I feel spiritually and psychologically raped.
Stunning 💜
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.
It a wonderful feeling and let’s face it we need some pluses to make up for some of the negatives of aging 😃
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.
Yes the thought of coping with all that has past again is scary.