Inspiration for the Spirit

A lovely place to wander for poetry and inspiration to soothe the soul

  • Home
  • About
  • Poetry
  • Essays
  • Inspiration
  • Quotes
  • Reflections
  • Guestbook
  • Archives
Home / Susan Dane Setin / La Haine

La Haine

by Susan Dane Setin

dark, misty sceneIt starts as a small little thing,
indignation at a trespass,
anger, having been wronged.
It grows into a flag,
parading first down small streets,
sweeping up the meanderers,
then avenues and winning crowds,
cheers along the way.
It writes an anthem,
builds a campaign.
Marching through the mind
it settles thoroughly in memory and vein
changing our posture,
the way we hold our chin.
By the time it reaches bone,
it has eaten through sinew and spine,
cost us all that was benign.
Then, rises up the starless night,
no song no light.
Suddenly afraid,
we want it out:
cut, poison, burn the blighted stem.
But rampant right breeds cell on cell
out of control,
And having eaten heart
it eats the soul.

Copyright © 2000 Susan Dane Setin • All rights reserved.
Selection from GOOD-BYE TO WHITE KNIGHTS and other moving vehicles—I. Gone the Clear Blue.

You might also like

My Miracle Heart
Fire and Ice

Filed under anger, hate.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

The Poetry Pages

My Poems
Classic Poets
Selected Poems
Classic Love Poems
Zen Poetry, Haiku, and Wisdom
Sitem♥p
book and blue flowers

Guest Poets

  • Oriah Mountain Dreamer
  • Terry Stephen Driscoll
  • Dennis Janke
  • Christine Magee
  • Carrie Ryman
  • Tom Schmidt
  • Susan Dane Setin

"What makes you a poet is a gift for language, an ability to see into the heart of things"—Erica Jong

Featured Poem

pensive ballerinas

Taffeta Torn Through

By Susan Dane Setin

We look for strong arms
to carry us. None forthcoming.
Or they come and go and
leave us more depleted in the going.
We look to find ourselves in the other,
always turning ’round the other
in pink taffeta, little girl pirouettes,
all grown up and still
twirling for him, as if some coyness
could suffice the long road … Read more
lamplight on snowy night
Venice
tea party on a cupcake
carousel

Explore and Enjoy

aging art autumn being female children compassion courage death divorce encouragement family father flowers forgiveness friendship grief & sadness happiness hope inner peace inspiring life living loneliness love love lost loving yourself marriage mindful living mother mountains music Native American people places positive attitude poverty quotes relationships sex & sexuality simple pleasures solitude spirit spring winter writing

Inspiration for the Spirit EST 2002 • Copyright © 2023 Patricia Petro • LOGIN

»
«