To The One Indifferent

And though you appeared sweet
felt the emptiness in your eyes,
indifference is the silence that hurts 
 more than words.

I strain to hear the once beating 
heart, one that used to smile and 
tell me life’s too short. 

I see you with your face stone 
cold, swallowed the sun in attempts
to feel the warmth. I haven’t the
 time to loathe anyone.

Horizon’s a hue of gold and brown,
I watch as you wade in a purgatory
of sorts; pushing and pulling the 
other at the same time.

 

Photo Credits: Firefly George Seeley

Posted for “Camera Flash” @ Real Toads 

also on “Poetry Pantry” @ Poets United

62 thoughts on “To The One Indifferent

  1. Kerry says:

    Wow! This is sheer brilliance, Sanaa. The best of your best, I think. The narrative voice is just perfect, and your images have a fine cutting edge.

    I see you with your face stone
    cold, swallowed the sun in attempts
    to feel the warmth. I haven’t the
    time to loathe anyone.

    This whole stanza is a triumph.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Aww gosh!❤️ Thank you so much, Kerry 😀 so glad you liked it!❤️

      (and thank you for the lovely prompt)

  2. Angie says:

    now this is just as gritty and grainy as the photo. someone has swallowed the sun. poor soul

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 😉 thanks for stopping by, Angie ❤️

  3. Shawna says:

    This is outstanding, Sanaa!!! Way impressive work.

    You know, I think indifference is a salve to a wounded person. They can’t handle expressing what’s underneath, so they even convince themselves they don’t care.

    1. Sanaa says:

      You’re absolutely right! 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Shawna ❤️

  4. Trådløs says:

    You definitely made me feel her. Well captured emotions here

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Tradlos 🙂 so good to see you ❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Shay 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  5. Bjorn says:

    Really good…

    As Elie Wiesel wrote: “the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference”

    Your whole poem is an expansion of that, but adds compassion to the mix of the person suffering in self-loathe.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Bjorn 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  6. I love the way you have captured cold indifference in your poem, Sanaa – it is ‘the silence that hurts / more than words’. My favourite lines have to be:
    ‘I see you with your face stone
    cold, swallowed the sun in attempts
    to feel the warmth…’

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so good to see you ❤️

  7. Old Egg says:

    I love your narrative poems (as though you were reading to me). Yes, words are often heated whilst silence is cold. What a great poem this is Sanaa.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Robin 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️

  8. Jae Rose says:

    What an intriguing and enticing story poem

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Jae 🙂 so good to see you ❤️

  9. Brendan says:

    You approach the image like sun to sepia, present to past, I to a lost Thou. Only the dead can be so “indifferent” … Your lively voice is tender but clear.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Brendan 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  10. Thotpurge says:

    The close is strong and so nicely done Sanaa…

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rajani 😀 so good to see you ❤️

  11. vandana says:

    The emotions flow flawlessly!

  12. Mary says:

    Brilliant writing, Sanaa! I can really feel this one.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️

  13. Debi says:

    “indifference is the silence that hurts
    more than words.” That is brilliant.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Debi 😀 so good to see you ❤️

  14. Indifference can be one of the most devastating emotions, for both the one ignoring another and for the one being ignored. People who don’t care about others tend to be… incomplete. And the ones on the other side of the coin break slowly, especially if the opinion others matter to them. But… like in the case of the speaker, sometimes indifference can be quite the defense mechanism. Why waste time being consumed by the silliness of another, if we can ignore their nonsense and use our time to live our lives?

    1. Sanaa says:

      I agree, we can choose to ignore the silliness of another and use that time to carry on with our lives 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Magaly ❤️

  15. gillena says:

    Wow!!! magnificent poetry; gorgeous end lines

    “I watch as you wade in a purgatory
    of sorts; pushing and pulling the
    other at the same time”

    Happy New Year Sanaa

    much love…

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️

      You too, Happy New Year!🌠🎇

  16. So true, indifference can hurt more than words. But sometimes those who are indifferent to us don’t deserve our love and attention. Best to be with those who reciprocate love and kind words. 😊

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 😀 thanks for stopping by, Loredana ❤️

  17. Sanaa you nailed that look….what an expression….fine lines…loved those last lines…💜

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Sreeja 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️

  18. Appearances are not always what they seem.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Annell ❤️

  19. Marian says:

    This is so chilly, Sanaa. Though I really relate, too… “I haven’t the time to loathe anyone.” Yes.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Marian 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  20. This is how it is, watching from the outside as another grapples with their issues. I love “I havent the time to loathe anyone.” Or energy! Wise words, Sanaa.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️

  21. Rommy says:

    A reminder that the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. And it burns more deeply than hate can sometimes.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Rommy ❤️

  22. Indifference can hurt us on so many levels!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 🙂 it would do us good to ignore people who feign indifference. Thanks for stopping by, Donna ❤️

  23. Eric says:

    Lovely write, Sanaa, I think that Feeling is either on or off, indifference is the off switch of emotion. And first I felt bad for the one who was spurned, but you brought me round to pity the unfeeling one.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Eric 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  24. Myrna says:

    Wow. You outdid yourself here Sanaa. This poem is so full of emotion, wisdom, the paradox within a relationship, the sadness before it ends. At least these are some of the things I read in to it.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Myrna 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️

  25. Wendy Bourke says:

    This is so well done. ‘indifference is the silence that hurts more than words’ – a brilliant line in an exquisite piece.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Wendy 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  26. It seems to me a very valid interpretation of this image – and, while sad, beautifully expressed.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so good to see you ❤️

  27. This is sad and I feel it in a way that triggers this reality in me.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Colleen 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  28. Truedessa says:

    Tis sad when one swallows the sun to feel the warmth of life again. Sometimes, one gets hurt and the coldness settles in.

    This is very well done and you def captured the image.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Truedessa 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️

  29. kaykuala says:

    indifference is the silence that hurts
    more than words.

    It is often fatal in a relationship. It is tantamount to a ‘no response’ attitude!

    Hank

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Hank ❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      ❤️

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