The sleepers feel rage
Their teeth are ground to powder
Gnawing frustration
About the Creator
D. J. Reddall
I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.
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I wanted to title this something different, but worried that my chosen title might cause problems entering the United States in the future so this is the new title. It's the greatest title. No one has ever written a title better than this. (All titles unrelated to content).
Let me be honest. I am finding this difficult. Now, I like a challenge, a stretch, a bit of an obstacle course. “Write about the decline of the British Empire in the form of a narrative poem in which your protagonist is an artichoke” I read, and flex my fingers. “Write a haiku to evoke the sensation of sibilance using only the first half of the alphabet.” “Well”, I think to myself, “this should be fun.” But “write about a system that isn’t working”? A system that isn’t working? Now? In 2026? ONE system? My favourite system that isn’t working? The sexiest system that isn’t working? The one giving me the most angst day to day? The one giving me the most existential dread? I am, as I say, finding this difficult. I will own that I have contemplated writing a thousand words on why the steady “all on” setting on my fairy lights is the EIGHTH of seven options which must be sequentially activated to get there, because that is a system that some fool came up with and it definitely doesn’t work, and now who is paying the price, eh? But how can I write about my fairy lights when…. When…. When….
By Hannah Moore6 days ago in Humans
Comments (5)
I've recommended this as a Top Story on this week's Raise Your Voice https://promotion-survey.life/resources/raise-your-voice-thread-09-25-2025%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="w4qknv-Replies">.css-w4qknv-Replies{display:grid;gap:1.5rem;}
well done!
Story of my life. I had a plate (is that what they are called?) when I was a teen. Long time ago. Need a new one. They are expensive and not very comfortable. I tend to fiercely clench more than grind even during the day. Very gnawing Haiku! Sorry for oversharing! 😅 In saying that, I hope you teeth are alright!
I know people who go through this. excellent violent words
Oh my, this is scarier than the dreams I have where all my teeth fall out. Loved your wordplay in your last line!