The ugly duckling
Is actually darling
But he wouldn’t know it, you know
Exposed to the ignorance
Of those with small, angry souls
Cruelty the cohesive adhesive between them
They hoped their hateful words
Would make him moan in anguished defeat
Feeding their sadistic need
To torture one different from themselves
Many years have gone by
Since those bad old golden rule days
A humble man clad in a t-shirt and jeans
Radiates an understated, no-frills grace
He speaks in an almost sleepy way
As he recalls those bygone days
In the spring of his life
His eyes shimmer with sterling silver tears
As he praises his late brother
For creating an empire
Ensuring that they would never again go hungry
He does not notice the honeysuckle
Climbing the trellis
As the young woman asks him
If he isn’t downplaying his contributions to the world
He doesn’t take her meaning
For when he looks in the mirror
He sees an ugly little man
He does not realize that the ugly duckling is beautiful
For he was so often told that he was not
The hateful word-arrows slung by fools
Create a not so fun funhouse filled with mirrors
That distort what their victims see
When they see their own reflection
Let us not utter words
That leave scars on others’ souls
Everyone deserves
To know the goodness in themselves
Lives are devastated
By ignorance and cruelty
And unrealistic standards of beauty
Created by advertisers
To sell magazine copy
And products that nobody needs
Love,
Cie
The Back Story
I was 16 years old when I saw the movie Let There Be Rock in
1980. It was no surprise to me when I learned that the Young brothers had been
bullied by their classmates. When asked to describe himself, Angus referred to
himself as “that ugly little man.” Malcolm was painfully shy and had substance
abuse issues.
In a recent interview, Angus praised Malcolm, who died in
2017. The interviewer noted that Angus seemed to be downplaying his own contributions.
His facial expression and words indicated that he didn’t view his contributions
as particularly important.
Angus Young achieved success and renown, but the cruel words
he heard remain with him.
Prompts Used
April PAD Challenge 2021
Countdown Prompt Day 10:
Write a “let’s (blank)” poem
My response is basically let’s not be dicks.
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-countdown-t-minus-10
Countdown Prompt Day 9:
Write a cause and effect poem
The effect of being the victim of repeated bullying is a
lifetime of self-doubt.
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-countdown-t-minus-9
Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie
Tale Weaver: The Ugly Duckling
Wordle
https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2021/03/22/wordle-230/
Poets and Storytellers United
Writers Pantry
https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/03/writers-pantry-62-of-spring-and-poetry.html
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I liked it a lot! In particular the end. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow (speaking as an Aussie inc particular) that's amazing that Angus so underrates himself! Well, ugly (like beautiful) is in the eye of the beholder. He doesn't look ugly to me, and never did. But in any case – what does it even matter in the face of that talent?! It is good that he pays tribute to his brother, but his own contribution to AC/DC was phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteI like this a lot. :)
ReplyDelete