Gossping, gathering
teeth and lips chattering
witchlike they whisper
while watching, and gossiping wait
for some dread new scandal,
some news they can handle
while witchlike they cackle
and curse, spreading rumour and hate.
It’s not just the women,
the men play their hand in
this murderous gossip
and gallop to town with the news:
‘Old so-and-so’s floundered
his morals have foundered!’
Like demons they demonstrate
they are outraged, not amused
The logs in their eyes
as they utter their cries
of outrage could be piled
and in minutes rekindle a fire
as they pick out the motes
in the eyes of the folks
who blink in the smoke
of flames fanned by salacious desire.
© 2021 experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
Written for dVerse
Tonight, Lisa is hosting Poetics:
‘Today’s challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to write a poem speaking to a human attribute that is particularly irritating to you — and it must have a Halloween or Samhain theme to it.’
Personally, I hate gossip. I’ve indulged in it of course, but recently realised it does nothing other than spread hatred and ill-feeling. I can think of better uses for my time. For example, writing poetry! The bar opens at 3pm EST, so join us for more poems of ‘Halloweeny Humans…’
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
The Bible (King James Version), Luke 7:41
Definitely,to be honest,I also hate gossip; its more hurting to the person or entity they’re gossiping about,for the gossipers may be spreading fake and nonsensical rumors without regarding them…
Same goes for jeering: https://theforgersoffantasy.art.blog/2021/10/10/jeering/
Oh yes, I agree! That’s a great poem. I will leave a comment later as I can’t comment on links using my phone.
sure!
That seems fair enough given the circumstances!
But it had some strong language,and I can’t help that..I just wrote down my raw thoughts.
Fair and square!
GREAT response to the prompt! That last stanza wraps it up so very well. And I LOVE the illustration you chose.
Thank you, Lillian! I wasn’t sure how to illustrate this, then I found the photo and thought ‘yes!’
We had the same thought, except that yours is more poetic. 🙂
Not at all: just a different form!
I hate those gossips and scandals by both men and women. They are destructive to the extreme as well. Good one Ingrid!
Thank you Grace: it is certainly a pet peeve of mine!
Gossip is definitely the kindling of politics. Information is the currency of power. I really like how you imagined the wooden motes as piled and burned 🙂
Thanks Lisa: I had to weave some seasonal fire it somehow!
You’re welcome!
Lovely rhythm, madam! 👍
Thank you kindly, sir!
This is scrumptiously dark, apt and perfect for the season, Ingrid! I especially like; “The logs in their eyes as they utter their cries of outrage could be piled and in minutes rekindle a fire.”💝💝
Thank you, Sanaa! 🔥❤️
You’re most welcome 💝💝
great poem Ingrid!
Gossip spreads like wild fire while good news is hard to catch fire sadly!
“The logs in their eyes
as they utter their cries
of outrage could be piled
and in minutes rekindle a fire”
👏👏👏
Thank you Cindy! Glad you enjoyed ❤️🔥
You’re so welcome! I love all of your writing!💖
💕🙏💕
💖💖
💖💖❤️
You’re most welcome!💖
gossip sucks for sure. great poem.
Thanks Rog!
Oh you nailed this one, Ingrid! That last stanza was the killer.
pax,
dora
Thank you, Dora! Glad you enjoyed.
At first it looked like you were writing a Duodora, but then you took off and soared into some other form. Tis’ a very interesting poem, the language seems archaic and seasonal; very well done. As to gossip, a pox on those who spread it.
Thanks Glenn! I didn’t have the energy to attempt the duodora, so I let the metre gallop its own way.
Yesterday I saw a video of a “karen”, an older church lady who cornered this poor young gal in the ladies’ room and berated her for wearing shorts to church. (She was wearing jean cut-offs and a sweatshirt). Her complaint was that the girl was fat, and she drove her to tears and wouldn’t stop. It was awful, and I thought of this very quote you used about removing the beam from your own eye before concerning yourself with the mote in someone else’s.
That is very sad: the sort of thing which can leave mental scars, if we aren’t resilient enough not to take on board the criticism and hatred.
Great poem! You gave gossip a good spanking!!
And it certainly deserved it! Thanks Beverly.
Oh my, galloping gossipers! I only gossip when it is absolutely necessary… 🤐😏
Don’t worry, Rob…we’ve all done it 😅
I love the meter and the rhymes here! It feels relentless, and then hits you in the face like running into a board, over and over and over.
That’s the effect I wanted, like gossip itself!
Gossip as a witch’s cackle is the perfect comparison.
Thank you! A very ‘halloweeny human’ trait.
So very well done Ingrid! You picked a great on for your poem
Thank you Dwight!
:>)
An excellent choice of subject. (K)
Thank you Kerfe.
This poem has a lot of truth In it!
Thank you!
You chose a good human-ugly.
Gossipers. Venomous fools they be! And their audience that crave for more…
You nailed it. Thanks for sharing. xo
My pleasure, Selma, thank you! ❤️
I love what you did Ingrid. I cannot abide gossipers and men can be as bad as women. In recent years with politics becoming so divisive gossip has become a sport 😦
Yes, it is poisoning human society. We can only try to counteract it with love!
Great topic, Ingrid! Gossip is a not-so-attractive human activity. When we were young, we learned the saying,”Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me!” In reality, nothing could be further from the truth…reputations ruined, people falsely accused of crimes, a hostile atmosphere created in an organization or community…Love the photo!
I learned that saying too, and you’re right: the opposite is true!
I agree. The hypocrisy of those who are quick to point out weakness or fault in others is a horror of the human condition.
Horror is right. Thank you!
Great writing. Nothing worse then the damage done by unnecessary gossip. Sometimes it is helpful to tell the truth if it helps the person. Nicely written. 🤗❤️🦋
Yes, better to tell the truth to someone’s face than to gossip behind their backs! Thank you Joni ❤️
You are so welcome Ingrid. 🤗❤️
You really nail the petty evil and the terrible addiction that is gossip for many–I hate it, most especially when I see myself doing it. Like Shay, I think your last stanza especially resonates.
Thank you!
Aah, I too have gone down the gossipy route of tittle tattle! Definitely one of the most unattractive of human traits. Nicely done Ingrid.
Thank you Marion!
Some LIVE by the wagging tongue – and yet, in the end, the blade slays itself, at some point. Karma is a rightful B*tch.
(What always surprises me though, makes me wonder, do those who thrive on it never stop to consider others may be of the same inclination + are blathering on about them?! )
I wonder if they are just too busy gossiping to think about that?
LOL – most likely! besides, I’ve noticed that heavy gossips are drastic attention seekers, need to hog the spot-light, most often need to be right, are pretend sympathetic listeners …. and with all that plotting, scheming and desperation to be heard, they’re poor listeners …. makes for an ironic, if not really tiresome encounter – oh, I forgot to add to my list: they rarely have an original thought in mind ….
I think you have them sussed!
notes from the field …. it’s often very laughable, when you know what they’re about, but as I said, it’s exhausting to be in their company 😂
oh well, c’est la vie!
Love, love the image …. dislike, dislike any kind of gossip. Your poem is awesome, Ms. Ingrid. Cheers.
Thanks Helen!
I so like this, Ingrid! Gossip mongers given a Halloweeny makeover! 😀
Not one for the gossips either. Luv this
much❤love
Thank you Gillena 🙏
I like your rhyme and reasoning here Ingrid, I’ve often referred to ‘gossip’ as one of our verbal handgrenades … we lobby them with no clarification of the facts and regardless of the harm caused!
When living rurally one eventually hears all the ‘gossip’ about oneself, makes some paranoid but must say I found them so off target they were highly amusing 🙁
Thank you Kate! I can only imagine what the locals think about me…no one else salutes the sun from their balcony every morning 🤣🙏
lol I do it in the privacy of my own bedroom … I have a fun/sad story about a complaint about a lady naked on her lawn. She was 86 and had done yoga naked there since she was 26yo … nobody complained when she was young and beautiful!
Oh, the poor lady! I do my yoga fully clothed, so not breaking any laws 😅
lol glad of that!
I think you have written a gossipy classic.
Thank you!
Such a beautiful post. Gossiping is for idles. You depicted it beautifully ❤
Also, if you don’t mind and have some time to spare can you check out my blog. I’m trying new things with blog. Hope you like it 🙂
Here’s the link : https://superfun6.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/beautiful-quotes-of-all-time/
I despise gossip as well. I’m not a saint and I have done that before but honestly what good does it do to anyone at all?
Exactly the conclusion I came to!
That’s why I never say anything about someone unless I’m willing to say it to their face. So technically I gossip but I understand anything I say can and will be repeated.
That sounds fair!