RED RIVER

RED RIVER

A Poem by Betty Hermelee
"

What's wrong with our society?

"


RED RIVER

pristine scarlet exudes

a revolting stench

masses twitch

or lay motionless

until sirens screech their way

to a scene of a red river


Meantime the butcher exits

his place of extinction

swathed in muted black

he extracts his grizzly garb

unlatches his father's locker

and slips his weapon in a slot


He presumes anonymity

yet a neighbor sees him

in his bizarre gear

a snapshot against every eventuality


Before long, weepers impart

a rainbow of cuttings

at the macabre site

as an homage to those sacrificed


At once, alarms and human screams

impinge into a cacophony

of mortal suffering and pain











 

 


© 2022 Betty Hermelee


My Review

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Reviews

You just capture everything here monumentally. The writing is so neat and excellently done. The words you used, the way the poem goes on. It captures the horror of this world and just HOW many Red Rivers there are. It’s sad and messed up and no one seems to care but the people who aren’t in power, unfortunately. A heavy topic you explored beautifully with chilling lines but a beautiful poem with so much truth. Thank you for sharing.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

Wow! What a great review Cat, much appreciated!
Best to yo,
B.
What type thinking compels murdecide, taking of life of others and self. I don’t get it. Suicide used to be a prrsonal thing, not an event for CNN to cover.

Winston

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

Exactly! And when will it end, not in my lifetime!
Thanks for a thoughtful review…
B.. read more
Every time I hear "released on his own recognizance' I know it is just a matter of time.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

Dave, I see you're writing a book; i will get to read chapters, after my daughter leaves on Saturday.. read more
Dave Brown

1 Year Ago

Let me offer my apologies in advance.
If you do decide to take the leap, you might wish she h.. read more
Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

nope, the kids have a limit!!!, and I will get to your book, no worries!!!!
BESTB
Betty, you capture so poignantly what I feel every time another of these pointless events occur, which is as you so rightly note,far far far too often. The solution is one we will never accept, so it's simply a waiting for another desperate soul to shout out they want to be heard, but when we listen all they have to say is "someone's got to die in order for me to live" A sad, sad statement if ever

ken

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

Thank you Ken for a very thoughtful review, much appreciated.
Best, B
Hello dear Betty. Your words honest, strong and true.
"Before long, weepers impart
a rainbow of cuttings
at the macabre site
as an homage to those sacrificed"
The above lines. So many know today. I pray for days when war is forgotten and our children, can be children. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

Thank you John for thoughtful review....
much appreciated...
Best, B
Coyote Poetry

1 Year Ago

You are dear Betty.
This one to me certainly has Carmina Burana as it's soundtrack. You could have shown a picture of a child's painting with that music and all you'd think is "That painting is going to come to life and kill me in my sleep!"
Red rivers and the stench of decay, along with human screams and mortal suffering suggest the true pollution of humanity that dishes out new flavours of suffering like it was gonna go out of fashion anytime soon.
I doubt it will though.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

I only wish it would go out of fashion...but not in our lifetimes... Thank you Lorry for an in-depth.. read more
Crimson Tide-a diseased river.
That's what I thought of reading this at first, but this was something a little different than that.
Very macabre.
Very Halloween/October-ish.
I enjoyed reading it.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

yes and all the mass shootings we've has to live with!
Thank you for your words, much appreci.. read more
light and ashes

1 Year Ago

You're welcome
These rivers of blood are becoming too frequent in the world today. Where hate is practiced more than love. And regardless of faith, politics, or color we all bear the same blood. A harrowing and moving piece of poetry B. One that we all have a responsibility to change in order to make a better world. CLE

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

A very true and thoughtful review Carlos!!
Thank you, much appreciated!
Best, B.
this Red River makes me feel so blue...all of the senseless Mass shootings....the bombs in Ukraine...
life has turned red...and it is pretty scary.
j.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

Red or blue, yes it's very scary... Thank for your input, much appreciated J.
Best, B
Quite graphic, this one, as it should be. I don't know if it depicts any particular mass shooting, but it could stand for all of them. Most of us wish we'd seen the last of them, but unfortunately we haven't.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

It's a general statement on mass shootings...
Thank for your review!
Best, B.

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Added on October 22, 2022
Last Updated on October 22, 2022

Author

Betty Hermelee
Betty Hermelee

Black Mountain, NC



About
My love of poetry results from my love of art. As a painter I am able to express myself on a canvas. As a poet my words come from my heart, my moods, sometimes sad, mostly upbeat. I like to use vivid .. more..

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