Hammer (poem by Lu)

[i]NOTE FROM AUTHOR: As a writer I am always curious what inspires the author to write, whether it is a poem, or a story. Most of the time, I can see clearly what within me inspires what I write. This particular poem popped up unexpectedly as I was writing in my private journal about completing the second part of a short story I am writing. I was writing in my journal about how tired I felt and about having incidents of suddenly nodding off, and then my head jerking and waking me up. I know some recent events had put me into a bit of a depression but I had thought I had come out of it. Now I wonder if maybe it still lingers. This poem indicates it does and is possibly my subconscious informing me of how I am feeling deeper inside. I am good at being able to pretend those feelings don’t exist and have done it my whole life so at times like now, I can do so and not realize I am doing it. Today, this sadness and exhaustion continues as I try and work on part 3. Please understand, I am not a person who does self harm. This is more of a metaphor. [/i]

Hammer it hard
Don’t let up for just a minute
Make it hurt
Smash it to smithereens
Don’t ever let up
It is the pain we need
Or the sorrow will overtake us
It is the searing hot pain
That will obliterate our sadness
A punch won’t suffice
A hangover smirks and laughs
Take the hammer
Hold it firmly in hand
Swing it high
Put it to your thigh
Feel it sink into flesh
Bruising’s too easy
Feel flesh then bone merge
Sinking into one
Look at the sky
Don’t let go the tears
Hold them tight
Suffocate that need
If you must, moan but do not scream
Do not wail to the gods
They no longer hear
Just look to the hammer
Its truth dangles in your hands
Swing it high
Crash it down on your thigh
Feel the bone crack
The burn of flesh smashed
Hold it high
In your mind’s eye
Bring on the searing pain
Let sorrow flee in its reign.

by Lu Kelly Davis 15June2023, 8:33pm

Richard65 · M

It's a powerful poem, but your detailed explanation about its meaning undermines it somewhat. In my opinion, you should set your art free to find its own way in the world and allow people to read it or look at it and take their own meaning from it, possibly not the meaning you originally intended, especially with poetry. That's the beauty of art. Once you let it go, it belongs to everybody so they can interpret it their own way.
But you're very talented.

Luckylu · 61-69, F

@Richard65 I appreciate your words. If I were publishing it in a book, then that is what I would do but I’m not. I placed it here where I have a few new friends who have helped me through some difficulties lately. They don’t know me well enough to know what I will do and what I will not do. My words are to reassure them, as I do not want them worrying about me, since they do know how I’m feeling is very much written into the poems I write. This one even surprised me when it emerged. If I were a friend of someone who wrote this poem I would have been concerned for her welfare.

Thank you for the compliment in regards to my writing.

Montanaman · M

I feel this poem, as it was intended.
I often go to that deep place where pain is suppressed instead of felt. Where numbness stings like a dead bee. The stinger pulsating and pumping it's poison; depression, into my exposed skin.

It's actually subtle, and often goes unnoticed for days, weeks.
But She whispers softly, calling me home. 🤗✍️🤗❤️