Don't pretend
that you've done nothing
for there is nothing worse
than the nothing that you did
except what you do
by pretending it is
nothing
Author notes
Written February 27th, 2006
Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.
~ Haile Selassie
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Comments
1 - 39 of 39
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I love what you've added to this piece.
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The art used in describing this type of
emotional abuse is as profound and subtle as the topic. Ignoring someone (giving them the silent treatment) is sadistic and hypocritical. The intention is not to reconcile the situation but to hurt, then deny the intent by claiming "I didn't do anything". Wish I had written this piece. The title is perfectly apt. Wisdom indeed. Alleluia!
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oh now this is one to get ones mind working.
I have read it through severa times to fully understand the twists is has caused in my understanding of it... But it makes sense in the end.
Very cleverly written and compiled.
Ann
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Skilled Poetry you have by learned the craft
Nice Poetry, you are a classic. I think you IM me under follower? you asked a question and I'd like to read the poem before answering. Please contact me. Thank You -
I've rolled this around in my mind a couple of times and I think I understand kind of what you are getting at, but I am not sure that I have arrived.
Andy -
Very simply written piece which hides a lot of complex thought within its surface. Keep writing, this was a great poem with a lot of depth
All the best
Pozo : -
i like this poem
you write realy great
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Thank you, Vic!
That's a good thing, it's supposed to make you think 
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4 Stars ****
Ok.. i will act normal, atleast try to... i got thouroghly confused at first... had to read it again and again to understand it, i know its simple, yeah now i find it simple
... but somehow, unfortunately, i grabbed the complexity in this simple write , my bad.
anyways...i think i will read it few times again, so that in case i read it again, i dont find it confusing again
nice write lady... good work.. thanks for sharing
take cares and have a nice time my dear friend.. just keep it up... your humble little friend...
.... 
... 
... - vic ( who else? )
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I wage a war every day with the nothing I have done and will do again.
To sume up this very important message in such a way saves what gets lost when people want you to confront your somethings and nothingsm, we tend to get lost.
Only if more see what you do. -
It occurs to me that the idea behind this poem is what it means to choose life. For by doing nothing, we lack essence. Every thought has an effect. Nothing is exactly what is accomplished without thought first. Reading this set off a chain reaction of ideas. One of those nagging bits of wisdom that convicts perpetually..
~ Klassy
Edited on Jul 04, 9:49 p.m. because ''. -
oooo makes u think huh?! well i like it..good words
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What is major to some
to others is minor
If truth's in the mix
then nothing is finer
But if denial's the cause
and accuations are wrong
then you're hurting yourself
plus all who belong
-Eddy -
Keep On Writing!
by pretending it is
nothing
wow...I think I have a new quote now lol...this is really awesome..thanks for sharing it! -
Lyndon, one can only presume he did mean to shout 'euphuism', i.e.
1. Affected literary style: a literary style of the 16th and 17th centuries characterized by excessive use of devices such as alliteration, antithesis, and simile
2. affected language or expression: an affected or pompous expression or use of language ( formal )
How it would apply to this, however, he seems unable and/or unwilling to explain
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EUPHEMISM is a word I know.
Perhaps, I'm a little slow ... -
EUPHUISM
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Nice play with words here. Very well said! Sometimes doing nothing, is as bad as doing something wrong.
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I liked this poem. It is very deep, yet as far as language goes, it is quite simplistic. You allow almost any reader to delve into the meaning of this text, then confront them with something they did not see before. I like poems which operate on this level. I thought you did a great job, and I like this form. Well done.
Thundercat -
This is a very deep one. It makes you think what that "nothing" stands for. In the first four lines I get a feeling that it is something bad, in the last three lines it seems to be something good. It kept me thinking about the good and the bad things that you do. Very well done Gennelle.
Anna.
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Yeah, but I thought about doing something...I just thought maybe somebody else would do it, so if I did it, they would be disappointed that they didn't have a chance to do it! Life is a trip, sometimes a rollercoaster ride, sometimes a crash into stupid mountain. Fun read and very thought provoking.
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If you had an anthology I'd order a dozen
What a put down of this prevalent hypocrisy I call humbug and pretence.
It reminds me of Ted Hughes at his most sanguine:
"A priest from a different land
excommunicated the clouds
with the jawbone of emptiness"
Thank you Gen. for enlightening my day. I shall bookmark this. Ron
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all that is needed for the forces of evil to rule the world is that enough good men do nothing
Edmond Burke -
nothing wrong with this pithy statement
col -
Pretending innocence after the fact is indeed rather pointless.And it can enrage in the face of being caught red handed.Reminds me of the words in Phil Colin's song of "I was there and saw what you did,saw it with my own two eyes. So you can wipe off that grin,I know where you've been. It's all been a pack of lies."~~Suseann~~
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true. this deserves thought, introspoection, reflection... and yields admission, acceptance and realization!
thanks for sharing,
sau. -
Very nice
Very nice write - I like the voice and tone/pitch of this. This brings forth so much in my mind and times when I have used words similar to this - stop acting like you don't know what you are talking about, stop putting on the mask of an innocent angel, etc with people who have done things that tick me off and yet pretend it was absolutely allright to have done so - bad attitude, but I guess all the fingers of our hands are not equal and likewise, we have a mixed bunch of grapes living on earth -some sweet, some sour! I like the repetition of the word "nothing" and hence thereby the stress on it really strikes out loud like a hot iron burning a brand new outfit and leaving behind a mark forever in the person's mind to whom it belonged and in the mind of the person who did the mistake. -
You write with great wisdom i am taking my time to go through each and every poem you write because they are simply great
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You go directly to the point, as usual. Repetition of "nothing" brings attention to what we often overlook.
This reminds me of something from the book of proverbs, "she wipes her mouth and says she has done nothing wrong." Well, doing nothing can be wrong. However, this is so widespread, I cannot blame anyone for the nothing that they have done, being guilty of plenty of nothing myself.
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Man, that a whole lot of nothing!
This reminds me (or so I'm making believe) of Camus' novel, "The Stranger." But in it he argued that we cannot be guilty of something until we do it. Which brings me to this question (and I already know your answer) Is doing nothing an action? Can we be guilty of NOT doing something? Is it a person's responsibility to act when he knows that action is likely to be of service? That reminds me of another novel by Pierre Bouille, (no not his "Planet of The Apes") Bouille wrote a novel, "Face of a Hero" where a Judge saw a woman accidentally drown but due to inaction did not help that person, though he clearly could have. In this case, he failed not from a desire not to help, but because at fitst he froze...but later could have run too her aid, but believed it would be too late and he didn't want to get involved. Is he guilty of doing nothing?
I'm not defending inaction, just posing a couple questions.
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Gentle Gen, I cannot pass this by and say nothing but there is nothing to say that hasn't been said.
'Tis a greater sin to rationalize our unresponsiveness(?) with denial of resposibilty than to actually not respond, for by doing so we deny ourselves the way to mend our ways.
Thanks for the message.
Peace, Rod -
Wow... This speaks so much truth Miss Maat. Absolutely brilliantly put. Great job
Much love
<3Kat -
Bravo! This is so very true and too often overlooked. We worry about our actions that may hurt, but in truth it is what we do not do that is the greatest offense. You have said it perfectly. Wise and thought provoking.
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words that double back to consume and multiply. as always deep, reflective very Zen.
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To Poeticweaver:
Thank you, Timothy! Yes, you've got it spot on, that is a perfect analogy.
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Perfect Verse!
This reminds me of so many that learn, and teach, but do not live the life... but more then that, it reminds me of the good Samaritan, "He did something." While the first two passed a man in need right on by. So many souls I know like this, but ofcourse, this is planet earth, and the selfish do reside here, lol.. A very wonderfully written piece of wisdom.
Thanks for sharing!
-Timothy The Poetic Weaver~
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Uh oh. Sounds as if someone has done something. They better fess up to it!
Oh, how we would hide behind "nothing"! Must admit it has been my refuge on many an occasion.
Here You have aptly and concisely stated it! Woe to me if I hear these words from my Beloved! I shall not show them to her... to late I already did.
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Brilliance True Gold in Heart & Soul!
By the rivers in my heart
Torn tethered in darkness
I’m deeply inside your song
He pretends He belongs
In withered nothing
He wanders wilting
A mind bender Dearest Gennelle Marie~
You call a spade a spade in a deadly force clearly.
I shall light a Sabbath Candle for you divine muse to never be abused~
Edited on Feb 28, 2:08 because ''. -
If one DOES nothing, was NOTHING done? A circular thought fraught with naught. thanks for the mind bender.
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