Poem - Scarlet’s Stain

[kokopelle]

“Scarlet’s Stain” was inspired by a Tumblr posting that featured paintings of the persecuted being burned at the stake. This is not a regular occurrence in our modern world, but this does not mean that persecution doesn’t happen because people are perceived to be different from a larger norm.


Scarlet’s Stain

Identity begs for pain
wearing crimson invites the peril
judgment from the world’s bullies

at the worst they will respond
stoke the fires to purge the world
of the deviants their hearts reject

red consumes the blackness seen
darkness weighed and then condemned
before the heat claims its prey

belief is pressed to save the world
removal of infernal foes
so the greater is made more safe

if only this would truly change
the masses erred in their rush
consumption made for the naught

now the embers are all that's left
the tears could not extinguish flames
imposed on those with scarlet’s stain.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20171107.