Today’s Assignment
Word prompt – Hero/Villain
Form – Ballad
Device – Anaphora/Epistrophe
This ballad seemed to take on a life of its own. I’ve always rolled my eyes when I heard someone say something like that; and now, here I am. I actually intended to write a ballad about how teachers are heroes. I had the words floating around in my head all day. — Instead I ended up writing this one that makes my heart hurt when I think of all the kids that suffer emotional abuse on a daily basis.
Thanks for stopping by to share my continuing efforts to write poetry.
A Ballad
Words
He doesn’t understand why
Everything he does
Always seems so wrong!
She’s always there
Waiting to let him know.
Words cling, words sting!
Mornings are the worst,
Frantic rushing to start the day
Brings frustration and delay.
He can’t get it right,
Too slow, too lost, too stunned.
Words crush, words cripple!
He doesn’t know how to stop it.
Doesn’t know how to change.
Hoping that if he’s quiet,
Refrains from speaking out;
She won’t react or shout.
Words scorn, words ridicule!
He does his best
To just ignore the hurt.
He tells himself just get
Through the night;
Then she’ll be all right
Words break, words bruise!
Sometimes it boils over,
The hurt and pain explodes.
He hides and cries,
Begs her to listen.
I’m just a little boy!
Words stab, words stun!
He wonders, is it the same
Next door or the block over;
If he’s the only one
Who always gets it all wrong?
Is this how life will always be?
Words whip, words wound!
He doesn’t understand why
Everything he does
Always seems so wrong.
She’s always there
Waiting to let him know!
Damaging words, destructive words!
Writing poetry and all these forms are new to me. I’m pretty sure that I didn’t get the anaphora and epistrophe correct this time around; but I’ll try again with another poem.
Rainy Day Reflections 
I liked the poem a lot. The fear and bewilderment of the child comes through dramatically and the cause is: words. Poetic devices add to the power of the poem; once we learn their relevance I think they can be played with ! Poetic licence 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! 🙂 I appreciate your comments and that you stopped by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an amazing creation and i so loved the story it carries…
Words stab, words stun..words break, words bruise, whip and wound, cling and string..wow!! That’s so wonderful 🙂
Thanks for sharing your poem 🙂
I learnt words can crush and cripple ❤
Stay blessed 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Unfortunately words do all these things and more! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that is true, words are the sharpest of the weapons and at the time best cure too 🙂 Thanks again for sharing your “words” 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The theme, Form and literary devices are really just suggestions. You can use any or all of them. I decidd that for a two week class I could deal with the structure and I’ve tried to include all for each assignment. Anaphora and epistrophe have to with repeating words at either the beginning or ending of lines. I probably did it all wrong; but I like the repetitions I used. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably, even though I write enough poetry to get a book published, I would never take a class where I have to adhere to certain forms. My recent haiku class remains the sole exception; I found it frustrating. However, it seems I am good at it or so I am told. To be honest, I have no clue what anaphora or epistrophe is. Sonnets, yes, but not this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Barb, Thanks for stopping by. Could you explain your comment? I’m not quite sure what you were trying to say.
LikeLike
hello 1. great verse
2 to miss i never did a great thing in my life
again wrong.
3. Cruise Leicester award id that? this is poetic of spell check on mars
4 blid awareness spell checked, versatilt
love
MOM
LikeLike