Your Hands Have Blood on Them

‘Found’ poem - from The Bird of Paradise (RD Laing 1967)

by Henry Bladon / December 31st, 2023

Men can destroy the humanity of others,
remember your hands have blood on them
you’ve been told as much,
that will corrupt you and destroy you
with unadulterated compassion.

How do you plug a void?
Just don’t ask for trouble
remember your place in the hierarchy
and that last desperate clutch.
Do not despair – the soul dies before the body.

Henry is a poet, writer and mental health essayist based in Somerset in the UK. His work has appeared previously in Dissident Voice. Read other articles by Henry.

This article was posted on Sunday, December 31st, 2023 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.