Good write. Unfortunately, there are shadows on the net. 98% of the time, these same shadows are one cell narcistic amoebas that spew hate. One’s best tool, on the media, is common sense. A Mod should be given the tools to vanish an imposter of the human race. Abuse of any nature should be flung from the balustrade of Stars.

Thank you for being who you are – both mouse and lion. (or R.O.U.S – love the reference!)

All my life, and especially in my years of poetry forums, I’ve only ever become aware of dramas after they’ve happened. I don’t know whether I’m ridiculously inattentive, or just lucky, or if I should feel guilty that I wasn’t in the trenches fighting (which is ridiculous when I’ve not even been aware there WERE trenches). In this case I know I’ve just wandered in after the fact… but I appreciate what you’ve done for the community and will do the same if the situation ever calls for it. Thank you for leading the way.

Have a good rest.
❤k

Amen, Willow. Into the book it belongs! I agree with you 100%, and thank you for getting out of your comfort zone to make this known. It is our community and creative home, no one should have to put up with that kind of bullshit. Also, this was well written my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thank you so much for this.

Kudos! Never mince words. The mighty pen!

I think the culprit should be named, so everyone knows that they are not good people.
I don’t want to be friends with, or even comment with, on someone with poor morals.

The poetry community needs writers that are passionate. But some people turn it into something else. And I get the Internet can bring out the worst in us but we should all encourage the art and put aside the BS. Honestly I dealt with a lot of this on DUP and that’s why I keep to myself. I deal with enough drama off the Internet.

I fear that no space is safe from people like that. Everywhere I go, there is always at least one. I will say that this is probably one of the better places because people actually care but it is still sad when people abuse something that should be so far from that.
I too, as many others have said, wish we could name the offender or even the victim. Too often people like that get away with it because they operate where no one else can see and their targets suffer more for it. I would have liked to potentially lend support to whoever the “she” is that was treated this way. It doesn’t erase what was done but some of the most meaningful interactions I’ve had with other people is when I found out they stood up for me even when they didn’t have to and had nothing to gain. I hope maybe someday they’ll come back and give it a try.
At least there are people like you who are willing to speak up for them and against that type of behavior.

Mary, thank you for pointing me towards Willow’s post. I am glad action was taken and hope this beautiful place on the internet will remain free of this person. Willow and you are amazing gifts to this place. Never forget that.

People who bully online are miserable people, period. So they lash out in little pussy ways. They are insecure, depthually lonely, because no one wants to be around them. etc.
Always call them out on their BS. Always. Send me their screen names, etc. I can be brutal.
There are a few writers on here that I do not care for their material at all. Same as the other place. That’s putting it mildly. Yet, they have a right, as we all do, to participate. It’s easy enough to ignore them. But i will defend pretty much anyone from being harassed. The same as in real life.
Never run from an online coward. Light them up.

He didn’t only attack women who wrote erotica. He went after women who processed their trauma out loud on DU. Some of them left the site. Some returned, others never did.

Absolutely, girl. In a heartbeat I would do it again. Good to see your face here again!

hi beautiful Willow this is fierce 💕

Nice to hear you ROAR! The subject of this poem should definitely beware.

[I don’t know (or want to know) any details, but I have to confess this makes me a little leery of trying to re-enter this space. Ah, the internet sucks sometimes!]

Keep writing your fierce and beautiful heart.
❤k

Powerfully penned, Willow. I think this is a, Mic Drop! Appreciate you.

Damian

Roar! Claws activated!

Like the sick dog he was. I can’t remember the last time I was so upset…

This is great!

Isn’t that what poets do? String words together usually about how they feel.

Who’s pipes have been clogged?

Literary pipes?

I wonder what a clogged literary pipe looks like?
Pulp and ink.
I enjoyed this.

Regards James

It’s so unfortunate when some people choose to announce how little they are capable of understanding. It must be a sad little world they live in. I will join you in the never stop writing endeavor. Even if no one ever reads it, I’m gonna make it.

My poems are all screwed up if they were to be looked at as legitimate poems. I don’t know where to end lines, my cadence is probably wrong, I don’t know all the elements of writing poetry….but I write anyway. I think if anyone wants to write, they should write regardless of what another interprets in a negative manner. Poetry is subjective. 2 + 2 doesn’t always equal 4 in poetry. Keep writing/.

The poetry is always in the action of writing and the countless processes behind it. It often hurts; there’s lengthy periods of boredom and restlessness that comes with the territory. A poet’s life is not a painting, but a tapestry. Art is never a “finished product”. Sometimes it doesn’t look like progress, and some folks in our postmodern society just can’t comprehend that observation, so they attach these concepts of perceived “success” to the art itself, like if the art is “important” enough or getting the attention it deserves. Don’t be distracted by that nonsense, is my advice, and keep pen & paper handy.

I’m still editing poems from 10-15 years ago lol

The great poets of the past reflected the time in which they lived and probably wrote more for the rich than the illiterate masses.The language they used was generally not from or for the unwashed.
Willow,in my opinion, painters,poets and musicians do what they do because they have to.To let the universe know how they feel….which you do admirably.
I’ve read plenty of poems from the so called greats and found some of them to be utter dross but that’s only my opinion.
Art is subjective and critics are entitled to their opinions.
I’m sure I write too much and have written lots of unpoetic pieces but who cares.
Of course it’s nice to get acknowledgement but that’s not why we do it…..

🙏🙏🙏

I liked this piece by the way.

Tell that Fuck Bag that I’m watching his every move ..

Keep penning girl

BIG LIKE

Tremendous work. Keep writing.

Powerfully penned, Willow. Into the book it belongs! Love the layers in this write my friend. I know you’ll never stop writing, you’re so passionate about your craft. Appreciate you.

Damian

sounds like he described a poet to me. excellent write.

Poetry is a form of art. Great art breaks the “rules”. Fly baby! Break all their rules of conformance! If you or I write the single word JUSTIFICATION, it is a poem! It has meaning. It may evoke different emotions in different people but it still comes from what the poet felt at the exact moment it was written! JUSTIFICATION!!!

I understand needing validation. I grimace when a post gets read 20 times or more with no comment.

Please don’t ever stop writing (I know you won’t) and sharing! I’ve also learned that sometimes people just don’t know what to say in the moment, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t touched, comforted, uplifted, or challenged by your words.
I also have to confess that when it comes to commenting on someone’s poetry, I often struggle with whether my comments are “good enough”. It shouldn’t be a competition… but posting comments can be just as scary as posting the poems themselves, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, who am I to lecture about this stuff when I haven’t been here in forever. Sorry. Just keep writing, and don’t ever doubt that it matters.

❤k

And to you, girl. Good to see you home!

Thank you, girl

Powerfully penned, Willow. Amazing lyrics my friend, and a nice arrangement musically. Appreciate you.

Damian

hello beautiful Willow passionate rhythm and word play very brilliant indeed 💕