Sordidly sowing
his seeds
of putilent pestilence,
we can never unhear
his words —
puerile with virulent venom
and loathsome resentment.
We think we are better
until, in our neighbor
we see
his seedy reflection,
failing to see that
what’s boiling inside
is contagious rancor.
Nina Tokhtaman Valetova
Today it’s Quadrille with Merril hosting at dVerse. The word is seed which made me think of the hatred words can sow, and how easy we might be affected with pandemic hatred.
May 3, 2021
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Oh, I can feel this. Though this is an age-old seeding, there has been too much of it recently, and spread so easily.
Ah, you went with the devil’s seed, Björn, dark and virulent indeed. I love the hissing sounds in ‘Sordidly sowing his seeds of putilent pestilence’, which have me recoiling from my laptop’s screen! It’s frightening how fast the seeds can grow into pandemic hatred. We don’t have anyone that I know of like that in our village, but someone dropped a used mask on the private road at the back of our house. Why do people do that?
you sewed one bad see here Bjorn – I like too how
“we can never unhear
his words”
once planted!!
p.s. putilent a new one to add to my lexicon – thank you
This is incredibly powerful, Bjorn! I agree, “we can never unhear his words —puerile with virulent venom,” the devil is undoubtedly quick when it comes to sowing those seeds.
A somber look at the seeds of hatred, Bjorn. All too plentiful, I fear.
Absolutely! The strength of revulsion and judgment came through so well with all your word choices. Well done.
Such are the seeds of the devil ‘puerile with virulent venom
and loathsome resentment’ – a wonderful phrase! I think we were writing along the same lines, and this also reminds me of another Blake poem ‘A Poison Tree.’
I wonder if those toxic seeds need receptive soil to germinate? All of us have some darkness within that maybe is magnetically drawn to the poison? (the contagion) My best tactic for devil seed is to avoid it whenever possible. Too easy to get buried with it.
Excellent exposition in just 44 words!
Those types of roots run deep, and require lots of effort to upturn. Liked this take on the darker side of our seeds.
A clever subversion of the immediate expectation of the prompt. Very clever! The alliteration you pushed here and there were also very excellent indeed. Fun, and thoughtful!
we have all heard words we want to unhear. but sometimes they are a nessesity. great poem thanks for sharing t with us
sadly true, people are so fearful and fragile that they want to put others down … and hatred is born! You make your point well, particularly with the last two lines of each verse
This is a fantastic take on the seed. I’ve a friend who keeps reminding me that a “holier than thou” attitude is itself as good a devil’s seed as any (even if I’m right about being holier than thou). Thanks for the brilliant read
Dark, but certainly of the times.
Glad I don’t live next door to this guy.
Bravo! Evil is not content to corrupt. It seeks to be spread.
You’ve rightly pointed out the source of hatred’s seed…we must STOP listening to his putrid words!
Sadly, this is true. There are so many sowing those sour, sordid seeds.
True written words. An unfortunate thing in our world tdoday. Nicely done.
Oh the dark side. Loved it!
I like that opening line. Nice alliteration of sordid and sowing and seeds. Enjoyed the alliteration throughout.
You’re so damn’d good, Björn. I love how you used ‘seed’ in two different ways. Clever and beautifully written.
❤
David
Wow – the feeling of malice that emanates from this poem! The alliteration is great – particularly the plosive ‘putilent pestilence.’
Hatred feels contagious now … this poem reflects it perfectly. Well done, not an easy topic.
Well said, but don’t let it under your skin, then they’ve won.
pat
What a darkly told story in such few words. Excellent Bjorn!
I appreciate the dark take on the topic. I started in this direction, but the words lead me in a reverse course.
“We think we are better”: so true. Well written, Björn. Captures our human illness of hypocrisy so well. Convicting and powerfully written.
Oooo. This is delightfully sinister, Bjorn.
It’s definitely contagious. If only good were as virulent. (K)
Deliciously dark with perfect language to convey the poem.