Heads or tails
a toss of the coin
two faces
two sides
one in the same
yet neither lays claim
Heads or tails
a toss of the coin
two faces
two sides
one in the same
yet no one is to blame
These be the times,
when you question your worth
does it all mean anything,
or has it all simply been a pipe dream
Nobody quite sure how such worth is spent
is it for a greater good,
or upon it does the upper crust simply gorge
either way upon this pseudo world we make some sort of dent
Who are we to question,
I'm sure each of us have felt
we are caretakers and creators,
this world is our pseudo ream
Fear not a factor,
nor an inkling in my prose of life
I'll say what I think,
and in my words emotion creeps too
Either you like me as I am,
if not then don't bother to look
each of us our own individuals,
so treat others as you would have them treat you
Heads or tails
a toss of the coin
two faces
two sides
one in the same
and both must lay claim
Heads or tails
a toss of the coin
two faces
two sides
one in the same,
and both are to blame
(c)2004
~Nikki~
Author notes
This piece stems from a reply made to me on a comment I posted elsewhere on this site yesterday. I think it is very sad and troubling when two parties squabble and neither wants to take claim to the blame, thusly they play what I quite simply call, The Blame Game. No matter how words are tendriled, minced each party has it's own culpability. It's a fact of life; to err is human, and my darlings we are ALL human!
*Oh, and this is in NO WAY meant to be taken as offensive by anyone who knows what I speak of!
Written October 12th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- Honest Critques In Exchange For Your Best by onerios13.
500 points, ended October 17, 2004, 78 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
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I don't think blame can be laid in one direction of any situation, there is always some other circumstance included that effictively points fingers at both parties. It is nice to believe that we all can remain innocent, but a faulty belief in its own right.
You can never be entirely innocent, because even if you try and avoid all confrontation you still have the possibility of influencing someone elses life, whether you intended to or not.
It works in the line of how many bad situations have played out where those involved didn't say anything even though they knew something was going on, in the case of deaths, I think both can be blames. If you are looking out your window and see someone getting murdered outside and don't even consider doing something, even calling the police, then I think you are partially to blame for the death of the victim. If you are not trying to help them because you have children to protect, of whatever age, then that is a different story, but if you are merely just sitting there alone, watching this ugly scene play out and don't do anything, even if you know something should and that someone is about to lose their life because no one listened to their screams for help or in actuality heard and/or saw everything and did nothing.
The reason I brought that up in connection with this poem and what I have said here is because I remembered hearing a story of a young girl who was murdered right on the street, with people watching, that fact being true because some of the people who saw it happen and didn't try to prevent it admitted to having not tried to help her.
She was only like seventeen and was just allowed to be murdered without anyone trying to keep her young life from being snuffed out like the flame of a candle. Its really sad to see how impersonal and cold people can be, when they see someone being beaten or having any number of other horrible things perpetrated upon they just turn their head and walk away while someone loses their life or at the very least their dignity and respect for humanity as a whole.
I think even if you can't go outside and try and help a person who is trouble in the sesne of physically going outside and trying to tear the person who is attacking them off you could at least call the police and say that someone is being attacked or what looks like being murdered in close view to where you live. But most people think of it as too much time and energy to be wasted trying to save an innocent persons life and then there comes the argument of what exactly innocence means, it means alive. Even if that young girl was not a proper lady or even a healthy and kind person she was still a human being and didn't deserve to be mangled and thrown into the trash like a piece of rotten meat. She was a person and no matter how much we may try to demean the meaning og hose who have lost their lives in such crimes, it is only a cover that we utilize to hide the pain and regret of having been one the people who could have done something but didn't.
Thank you for this elightening poem. I know I may have stepped outside of the context a little bit, but this is what I got from it. It brought back memories of stories I have heard and situations I have witnessed, most specifically the story I have told, one that I heard from both friends, teachers and relatives.
much love,
James
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ah yes ... its responsibility.. reminds me of kids... exchanging blame to avoid the guilt... but in the end both would be guilty of something... great poem. ~Lf
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I honestly liked this one...it held many good points and was elegantly presented. The only thing I'd state is I think it could be shorted just a WEE bit, lol. Because the point was made so clearly, it really needn't be expounded on so much...add more mystery to the overall wisdom, lol. But aside from that, it was a very enjoyable piece to read.
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man... i wish i could write something half as good as this after 10 HOURS of thinking, never mind 10 minutes! lol! But yeah, you definitely managed this one very well! A thoughtful write, methinks. Well done =) And good luck in the contest ^_^
..May.. -
the first i thing i thought was that quote by thomas paine: these are the times that try men's souls...i'm not sure why i thought of that...lol..but i did...and did enjoy this thoroughly...its the type of piece you "burn your bras" too! lol...ahhhhhh the feminist movement, such a beatiful thing and they've left us with such an awesome slogan ^^ lol...okay...im feeling a little wierd, so if my incessant rambling is annoying or uncomprhendable...my apologies ten fold. two days of therapy and my brain is fried. anyway-this, i like.
anyonita
-icfraud
Edited on Oct 14, 5:11 p.m. because 'i spelled my name wrong lol'. -
A great topic to bring into the open... Sometimes we fail to see that it is in our differences that our greatest value lies, making us unique, interesting and mysterious. Our differences present the opportunity to share and to learn, we must just never presume to be doing one or the other. I really like your work.
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"and to forgive is divine", and to forgive oneself is necessary , but impossible if one fails to see the errors of ones ways in the first place.....and so it goes on and on, and the buck keeps running and pointing fingers and never gets to stop , never gets to examine why he ran in the first place. A very poignant write here my dear friend Best of luck in the contest,
zzzzz
Reenie
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This is very well-written! Good job! Thanks for explaining the meaning behind it.
Edited on Oct 13, 3:28 p.m. because ''. -
I really like this poem and think it is a very nice view into how people view conflicts on the outside looking in. I really think it is a very efficient reminder on how some don't like to admit when their wrong. I don't want to write too much becaue I seriously have sop much to say. Good job and I hope to read more from you later.
~~JMA~~~ -
I think you handled the squabble very well and got it out of your system through this poem nicely... well done...
mina -
Thought Provoking
Blame is a very insidious virus in our society. This poem illustrates well the reaction we have retreated to in order to preserve ourselves. Everything is always someone else's fault.
You have delivered your point effectively. -
Well yes...agreed...for every action a reaction. We do not operate or live within a vaccuum. Guess it goes back to the old cliche...it takes two to tango. An argument cannot be had if only one is doing the arguing. We all must take personal responsibility for our part in situations.
I like the way you presented this. Nice Job!
UB
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very well writen I like the use of repatition of the first part interesting subject... keep it up well done xamy
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Actually Wolf I shot this one out after about ten minutes serious contemplation last night on the comment to a comment of mine where someone said "There are always two sides to every story!" My mind started churning and POOF this is what came out!
~Nikki~ -
Very well done you obviously thought this one out! You are right the "Blame Game" is so bland and childish! Great job!
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this is a very well thought out and extremely well penned poem. i love your work
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nicely written poem! i like the repition in the first and last two stanzas. the flow might be just a wee bit off at times, possibly because of the inverted word phrases.. but thats just my opinion..otherwise, its a really great poem. keep up the good writing!
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excellent
Good words....to err is indeed human , An opinion is not a fact .so many times we forget that. Then people argue going no where. Well expressed poem with much wisdom .Thank you
Buchan -
this was great...i loved it!
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this is awesome i love it!
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I think the start was good but they way it transitioned needs a little work. Try staying in the same format where you have few words to each line. Just a thought! Great message though!
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