The Prosecutor

A meditation on guilt

Who is this calling me

From the days of yore,

*

With the seeming intent

Of settling the score?

*

A judge and jury, one

And the same,

*

A diehard apostle

Of fixing the blame,

*

Who recalls all my errors

And holds them before me,

* 

While caring not a whit

For what might restore me.

*

I once let him haunt me

And consume my attention,

*

But now I can see he's not

Worthy of mention,

*

Just a worthless guilt monger

And a merchant of dread,

*

Who has no encampment

Save the ranks of the dead,

*

So when he would bait me

With all my mistakes,

I let him rant on, until

He falters and breaks,

*

For he's only a face of

That demon called fear,

*

And my will can rebuke him,

Or bid him draw near.

Author's Note

I believe more than a few people have experienced this phenomenon.

Reviews

[FGFRANKLIN]

I think guilt is a good thing if it inspires change to more honorable actions. But people from our past often only remember the person we were in the past or an exchange they might have had with us. I don't think many people stay the same without change or growth. A few, maybe. But some never willingly grow up.

[ETERNITY]

Hi JTB, My fears are absolutely those demons you talk about. I know them by name. Insecurity, Dread, Fantasy, Premonition, Imagination, just to name a few. Why can't I let go? And when I try to kick them to the curb, They always come right back.
Thanks for posting.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, E. I believe all of the "demons" are manifestations of the fear of death. It's just using aliases.

[ETERNITY]

@John the Baptist, That's amazing! Thanks!

[Soren]

John it is amazing that people don't change. Bullies in school become fear mongers when grown with threats and intimidation they attempt to hold power but if one calls the bluff by ignoring or facing up they disappear into the shadows. Scammers use this tactic on the old and weak to get money or information. Sad as it is this world has too many of them. Great write John

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Soren. Actually, I was referring to our own inner bullies.

[W. Barrett Munn]

You sound like a man with the t-shirt

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Winston. Actually, I prefer tank tops.

[John Prophet]

Well said. Standing strong in the maelstrom.
John

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, John. We can be our own worst enemies.

[Thomas W Case]

Very relatable. Great work.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Thomas. Yes, we can become our own prosecutors.

[Lorry]

It is hard for me to pay any attention to people trying to guilt trip me into doing what they want when I so easily trip over my own feet on a regular basis.
Even if you could change their narrative, it would only be another negative to hide their flaws and magnify yours.
Turning a deaf ear to them not only refuses them an audience, but p*sses them off too. So win win! 😃

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Lorry. It's when we guilt trip ourselves that we run into trouble.

[MCS]

I can relate to this. I’ve learned the hard way that some doors are best left closed. Great piece of writing, my friend.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, M. I suspect many can relate to it.