Walking Away

Walking Away

A Poem by The Iron Horseman
"

Before you walk away, consider the consequences, for yourself as well as others.

"

Just walk away,

That's what they say,

Just walk away,

Don't save the day.


Just walk away,

It's the thing to do,

Just walk away,

Too much to lose.


Just walk away,

It's not your fight,

Just walk away,

You have the right.


So he walked away,

And an old man died,

He walked away,

When he could have tried.


So he walked away,

And a small child cried,

He walked away,

When he should have tried.


So he walked away,

From a scream in the park,

He walked away,

And the world grew dark.


So he walked away,

And his soul shivered,

He walked away,

And his humanity withered.


So he walked away,

He turned his face aside,

He walked away,

And his spirit died.


So he walked away,

Because he was afraid,

He walked away,

When he should have stayed.


His body walked on,

But it was just a shell,

His body walked long,

In it's living Hell.


Don't walk away.



© 2018 The Iron Horseman


© 2018 The Iron Horseman


Author's Note

The Iron Horseman
An observation on the big city disease of refusing to get involved. Sometimes others need your help. Sometimes you need theirs. You can make a difference!

My Review

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Featured Review

Not being a big fan of repetition, I found that 50% of a fairly lengthy poem using the same line over & over . . . it brought on a little eye-glazing-over in stretches. Even a tweak here & there, to break up the monotony & add some variance would make a big difference. I like your message & the way you hammer it home repetitively, which lends itself to some type of music, with a simple beat-like rhythm. My opinion is that there are many of these types of people who instantly run for danger instead of away from it. But not everyone is like that & not everyone could be a help in such a situation. Lots of people are barely holding themselves together against dire challenges. I'm not in agreement that everyone should be guilt-tripped into hero action. We each have our strengths & it's better to encourage people to do what they're good at. And we can also celebrate the heros that jump into the fire without hesitation. But I do appreciate the spots in your message where you're saying people just don't want to get involved or they're basically too lazy or uncaring to get involved. These kinds of people could use some prodding, as you do in your poem (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you, Margie, for your review; constructive and thoughtful, as always. I know your feelings abo.. read more
barleygirl

5 Years Ago

Thanks for sharing more about your point of view . . . all your observations are well taken! *smile*
The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you - I enjoy our discussions.



Reviews

Love this one too. Very well done with the theme and style, and great ending.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you once more, Declan. This is one I particularly like myself...
I loved the repetition in this poem, as it conveys so strongly the cause and effect of his schooling which was never to interfere, and how each time he walked away it took a bit of himself with him, a very effective poem on how each person can make a difference if they ignore ideas that we are individuals and not community

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thanks again, Madeira. I love the way you have expressed your understanding of the poem, particularl.. read more
I agree with your logic in the poem. People seem blind to the needs of others. If we assisted someone. Maybe they could succeed. Thank you my friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you, Coyote. You are right - it is the willful indifference that I find so horrifying.
Coyote Poetry

5 Years Ago

I agree and you are welcome my friend.
His body walked on,
But it was just a shell,
His body walked long,
In it's living Hell.

You're words here really struck home to me.
It's so true though, we all have times in our life when we should have stayed. We should've been there for those who needed it the most. You're words here are powerful and I know that you're a very talented author/writer.
The flow was great!
Keep up the great work my friend!

Your friend,

C. Lee Battaglia

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you, Lee. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you again for the compliment! :)
Some times we just have to walk away solve the problem and other times we have to get closer to know the truth

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

True. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I like this.
A nice read.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thanks, NG.
Good moral running through this.
We always think to ourselves, someone else will deal with it.
But hindsight is a wonderful thing. Doesn't bring back the dead though.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

That's the problem in a nutshell alright, Paul. Thanks.
have to agree with the Barley babe about the repetition ..though i do also appreciate how it works to hammer a point ..i took it in a more general sense tho...and people walking past and/or over lifeless people on the sidewalks and alleys happens all the time in the larger metropolitan areas where deep drug addictions and crime are greater people are maybe less prone to "get involved" ... but there is no excuse .. especially today when cell phones are already attached to ones lips and ears .. just a simple 911 and a clear report may be enough to save a life ... i think of the "Kitty" Genovese rape and murder in the 60s Chicago ... the attack took over 30 minutes while multiple people heard her screams and watched "in horror" as she was brutally stabbed and killed ... no one called nor tried to help her ... her attacker was however interrupted by lights coming on and windows being opened ..so he was scared off .. but returned to continue the attack three times before she was silenced ... i hear your message loud and clear and just recounting that event puts a stop to my heart beat and that big question ...what would i have done ... i am glad i have not been tested by an event ... but i sure hope i would do something ... strong voice ... easy rhythm ... your own experience must have been life changing .. thank you for sharing
E.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thanks for your review, Noodleman. Your example is a very good extreme example of the syndrome! But .. read more
Einstein Noodle

5 Years Ago

yes...so true ...we have uplifting examples of courage and honesty every day .. the press simply see.. read more
The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

You're right, they only want to print the bad stuff!
This poem is something that speaks to me on a personal level. I've experienced the feeling of walking away. It may feel like a victory to have walked away from that bully that one time. But it was a prolonged defeat. If you walk away instead of dealing with your problems, you'll only extend the length of the problem. All in all, this poem has a nice message, however I found it quite repetitive as another review said. It was still a good one though.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you, KB. The psychic trauma lasts forever, doesn't it? Unfortunately it is impossible to go ba.. read more
King-Bloodbolt

5 Years Ago

Quite so. Happy to have reviewed. :)
Not being a big fan of repetition, I found that 50% of a fairly lengthy poem using the same line over & over . . . it brought on a little eye-glazing-over in stretches. Even a tweak here & there, to break up the monotony & add some variance would make a big difference. I like your message & the way you hammer it home repetitively, which lends itself to some type of music, with a simple beat-like rhythm. My opinion is that there are many of these types of people who instantly run for danger instead of away from it. But not everyone is like that & not everyone could be a help in such a situation. Lots of people are barely holding themselves together against dire challenges. I'm not in agreement that everyone should be guilt-tripped into hero action. We each have our strengths & it's better to encourage people to do what they're good at. And we can also celebrate the heros that jump into the fire without hesitation. But I do appreciate the spots in your message where you're saying people just don't want to get involved or they're basically too lazy or uncaring to get involved. These kinds of people could use some prodding, as you do in your poem (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you, Margie, for your review; constructive and thoughtful, as always. I know your feelings abo.. read more
barleygirl

5 Years Ago

Thanks for sharing more about your point of view . . . all your observations are well taken! *smile*
The Iron Horseman

5 Years Ago

Thank you - I enjoy our discussions.

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425 Views
10 Reviews
Rating
Added on March 30, 2018
Last Updated on March 30, 2018
Tags: disassociation, involvement, courage, commitment, love, poem, poetry, interventionconsequences

Author

The Iron Horseman
The Iron Horseman

Canada



About
Aspiring new writer. I enjoy writing stories, poems and song lyrics. In fact most of my poems are song lyrics! All constructive input is welcome. If you think something sucks, tell me so. I won't be o.. more..

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