Some people wilfully tread on spiders,
But I don’t.
Some squash ladybirds for fun:
That’s not my style.
Some laugh as they crush an ant:
I can’t do that.
You can see where this is going:
Some people are just different.
They are born that way;
Or do they become like that?
They can’t all be sadists;
Sometimes it’s just circumstances.
So, could I become that way?
A terrible thought,
Whatever the circumstances.
And my thanks to Aisha, John B, John Gilbert, Purplemoon and K Lynn for liking this one.
This poem has given rise to a lot of interesting comments, for which I thank Keith, John C, Stephen A, Manish, Kevin, Adam and KJ.
I'm sorry if anyone found it worrying or suddenly feels unintentionally sadistic. I confess that I once whacked mosquitos with a rolled-up newspaper when on holiday near Ostend. And I wasn't that young. So there's no hope for me, I guess. (Also have zapped wasps out of self-defence).
I have always been fascinated by how ordinary, peaceful people become killers in a war. I remember a policeman telling me that there was a fine line between becoming a police officer and a criminal. Perhaps war is the ultimate 'circumstance' which forces people to face this repressed side of themselves. But otherwise I'm sure most of us change for the better and stay on the right side, as Adam says.
Thanks again to everyone.
Spiders.. I scoop up and put them out of the window.
Bees and wasps..I open the window and direct them towards it.
But chafer grubs or leather jackets (lawn wrecking vermin) I'm sorry to say I destroy on sight.
Very good poem, thanks Stephen, it may be a frightening thought that people can change drastically but I'm pretty sure they more often change for the better.
Using myself as an example, I was once introduced by a friend to the joys of destroying flies using a pinged elastic band. His mum would be aghast at the scene of carnage outside her kitchen door but we were just improving our skills in a battle against the aliens. I suggest it wasn't a display of our evil character revelling in death, but the ordinary stupidity of childhood. To back up this claim I'll admit to focussing the suns rays with a magnifying glass onto a spot on my own hand just to see how long I could take it. Again stupidity not evil and I'm pleased to say I don't do these things any more. I claim to have changed for the better and I think most people do, but we could all use some extra encouragement. 😏
Perhaps, very few people walk in a different lane and think different, or choose to be kind above all.
I do like to swat flies with my battery powered bat zapper thingy (not sure thats the proper name for it) it's like a slightly sadistic game of tennis. So, maybe I'm already half there, Stephen.
You've got me worried... Therapy required?
Rather worrying.
Stephen,
An interesting poem which makes one wonder to what extent we could go. Are we a pendulum which swings between good and evil, between creativity and destruction? I also try to avoid unnecessary killing of insects but where does this come from?
A thought provoking poem
Thank you for this
Keith
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Stephen Gospage
Wed 15th Mar 2023 16:45
And thanks to Pete, Nigel, Uilleam, Hélène, Rudyard and Poemtheart for liking this one.