Crime and Punishment

Shared with Momoetry April Poet Month challenge – free verse. Inspired by Chapter 2 of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

Underground men gather

in smoky dens of inequity;

Resigned sighing combined

with slow-dying monologues

given to the air;

~ Here, intellectual torment meets emotional suffering ~

Flying birds and brooms

cannot sweep away

the moral decay gathered in these rooms;

Grim guns sat with triggers cocked

raising a toast to broken thumbs,

the audience sniggers

at the truths unlocked;

The mirrors of the man,

egging ego on

until the final squalors squandered;

Empty pockets of destitution

degrading daughters to pawn their lockets

and prostitution

So, let’s be on our way…

Passionfruit flowers
Precede overabundance
Jam jars are ready

Ripened or not so
Papayas can be eaten
Until sick of it

The rambutans red
Are all infested with ants
Inedible now

Avocado trees
Why do you never give fruit?
I want to smash you

My chillies just came
It was a surprise to all
Conditions perfect

26th Jun 2024 – Submitted to Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge

Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

Today I’m grateful for:
The cookie I ate at House with my lunchtime coffee. It wasn’t particularly tasty or big but somehow it staved off any afternoon hunger so I ended up only needing yoghurt for dinner.
The best thing about today was:
Being able to talk to different students on a more personal level about more serious topics such as behaviour and respect. Even with the difficulties we have in communicating I feel as if I have their confidence in some ways.

I took this picture because I’d never seen the light on the lower mountains like this before. The sun was only just over the horizon to the east.

The Week That Was – 11th November 1979

Tag: Crime and Punishment

Cheers – 25th April 2025

Underground men gather

in smoky dens of inequity;

Resigned sighing combined

with slow-dying monologues

given to the air;

~ Here, intellectual torment meets emotional suffering ~

Underground men gather in smoky dens of inequity;Resigned sighing combined with slow-dying monologues given to the air;

~ Here, intellectual torment meets emotional suffering ~

Passionfruit flowersPrecede overabundanceJam jars are readyRipened or not soPapayas can be eatenUntil sick of itThe rambutans redAre all infested with antsInedible nowAvocado treesWhy do you never give fruit?I want to smash youMy chillies just cameIt was a surprise to allConditions perfect

Underground men gather

in smoky dens of inequity;

Resigned sighing combined

with slow-dying monologues

given to the air;