Violence — Summary

you tell me that violence never does nothing but your words tear me apart just like violence does

Show the whole poemHide the poem

Learn Poems app

Try the Learn Poems app

Everything from the website trainer, and more: new exercises, voice recording and sharing, reminders, quick review.

The speaker is responding to someone who claims that violence never solves anything. The line "violence never does nothing" is worded awkwardly, and the double negative technically means the opposite of what the other person intends. That slip may be accidental, or it may quietly hint that violence does do something, because the speaker has just felt its effect.

The turn comes in the last four lines. The person who preaches against violence is hurting the speaker with their own words, which "tear me apart / just like / violence does." The speaker is pointing out a contradiction: you can reject physical force and still wound someone deeply.

The mood is raw and bitter, but also controlled. The poem is short, with plain language and little punctuation, so the pain comes through without any shouting. The break before "just like" slows the ending and makes the comparison land hard. The speaker feels hurt, and also unheard, because the other person doesn't see the damage their words cause.

Read also

More by Fallen angel

All poems
SadFallen angel

Chase

I long for you But you long for someone else That person denies you Because of longing for someone else
SadFallen angel

Rock

I once was a large rock But then you sculpted me Only to find out that You would just throw me away
AngryFallen angel

trojan horse

you are the trojan horse you took everything without me knowing ~greed