A haunting reflection on lost humanity. Our instinct to howl and dance muted by indifference, while cruelty parades as normal. The “strange fruit” lingers, reminding us of what we’ve forsaken and what it means to truly see and feel again.

This is so empowering. We need to stop this.

Hi Curt. I know I left a review for this poem on WC, but the message is so important, I’m glad you shared it here too.

The imagery on this piece is haunting- The yellow scream is so vivid, almost synesthetic image that makes human atrocity feel terrifyingly alive.

The way sound, color, and darkness intertwine lingers long after reading.

I sat on my back deck with my brew and just read this.Some of the best and worst words come together there….right?

I enjoyed this piece.👍

This is chilling and deeply resonant. The way you transition from the ordinary calm of a morning brew to a dark, haunting spiral is so effective, leading right up to the sharp edge of “living in the USA.”

​The shift from “perfect memories” down the “woodchuck hole” into Shadowland is a brilliant and clever way to illustrate how easily we drift into isolation and self-absorption. It’s a dark and honest piece, just how I like my morning coffee. Great write!

This is brilliant, dear redzone, a masterpiece! Your imagery and the comparisons are very well crafted and breathtaking. There is nothing more threatening than to let the core of your being die while you are alive, and go on living unaware, merciless and without interest in the people around you.

I love, love ‘downhome” type writings. it’s my own start back in the day, so I have a fondness for what others can describe.
You succeeded wonderfully. The core value of what you were after stays true throughout the write. So the reader can sense that too, effortlessly.
Great stuff.