who is the victim?

by Charm

Published August 12, 2017

12+

In Poetry 2017

Comments & reviews · 4
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PrincessMia Review
PrincessMia wrote a review Review · Aug 14, 2017

I honestly love this writing. It is truly amazing how you used just a few words to/ create such a strong emotion. I love that this poem is short and sweet, to the point; however I think you can do a lot more with this. Maybe experiment trying to make it longer and keep telling to story. I look forward to reading more of your work!

Charm replied · Aug 14, 2017

thanks! it's going to be part of a collection so it'll have more context when it's put together will all my other poems!

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EKK15
Review
EKK15 wrote a review Review · Aug 14, 2017

Hi! I'm stopping by for a quick review!

So I really do like the message this poem is portraying. I think its a very strong metaphor that you wove into 3 lines so easily. I do wish there was more to the poem, but I think its so powerful in just those 3 lines, that there doesn't need to be anymore.

My one suggestion would be to adjust the flow. Specifically in the first two lines.

" You used me like a"

"Serial killer uses a knife."

The pause between the a, and the serial killer part seemed a bit off to me. I wish it flowed a bit better.

Ok so I hoped this helped a bit! I loved the metaphor and the poem in general. Keep up the good work! Can't wait to read more of your poems!

-E

Charm replied · Aug 14, 2017

thanks!

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OS2000 Review
OS2000 wrote a review Review · Aug 12, 2017

Hello!

I really like this. I think the metaphor when combined with the title presents a real depth of thought in just three short lines. It doesn't feel like a poem; it strikes me as a quote - which I think is really effective as it becomes close and personal in its targeted (first-person indirect speech) accusation.

Here the subject of the poem states that they were used "like a serial killer uses a knife", this immediately has large implications for the subject's complicity in an action they consider disgusting. The rhetorical question posed in the title then has renewed meaning: if the subject was the knife that caused the injury then can they really be the victim? Indeed, "who is the victim?" This quite slippery thought process is drawn to a neat, but still imperfect conclusion with the line "you didn't just hurt me" - this suggests a corruption perhaps beyond personal pain, a pain which was inflicted on others or on a spiritual aspect of the subject's being.

I love it! Although, I'm a little biased in this sense as I adore anything cryptic, especially if I feel like I've cracked it (which in this case I don't think quite have). The only thing I can offer in terms of being constructive is: be careful not to lose your meaning to purposeful ambiguity. I don't think you have here at all, as it is widely applicable to many contexts, but all the same it's something to be wary of and Its certainly something I personally am culprit of.

Charm replied · Aug 12, 2017

thanks for the review!

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rainforest
Review
rainforest wrote a review Review · Aug 12, 2017

(Ooh, I'm gonna review this.)

Hello! Irid here with a review.

I will apologize in advance, considering I haven't reviewed or wrote something in a while.

So there isn't much to read in this poem, but that's still okay. Nevertheless, I really like this! I love a lot of the poems that come from you. Because of the length of this, this most likely will be a short review.

As I said, I really like this. Although, my one question is "what isn't the context of the poem?" Is it from a relationship, is it from a friendship, a family member? How did they use you? Are they using you to hurt other people? I'm not sure myself, but I kind of like that aspect. This poem could be open to interpretation and the reader could fill in the blanks, which in a poem, I enjoy.

Overall, great work! I like the shortness of it. I like everything about it. I honestly can't wait to read more from you! Thanks for the read!

-Iridescence

Charm replied · Aug 12, 2017

this poem will be in my collection which is one story and so it will fit in and probably have more context then. i'm glad you like it! i like how the poem is open to interpretation right now but once i put it in the collection it will make sense and fit in like a puzzle piece.

Ooh! I can't wait to read the whole collection c:



I wondered why we put villains in our stories when we have plenty of them in real life; then I realized that maybe we wanted stories where the good guy wins.
— nogutsnoglory