Branding Burns Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Branding burns.
With a doing to leave centuries,
Of minds singed and scarred.
Never to mend again to pride an identity.

Branding burns,
To wound with an effectiveness done deep.
And worn to wear as a reminder to keep,
Although the affect of this is hypnotic...
Robotic has been the movement,
Left in minds over time permanently diseased.

Branding burns those accepting confinement,
Within dependent limits...
Kept to keep restricted beliefs,
To worship oppression and conditions that suppress.

Branding burns,
And the pain is released...
Upon that image which reflects,
A rejection that increases self hatred.

Branding burns and it hurts.
But cures to find to beat their self defeating,
Is no longer a priority...
To define a dignity that has been undermined.

Branding burns,
And the pain is released...
Upon that image which reflects,
A rejection that increases self hatred.
With no escape from it...
By those with wishes to impress in masquerade,
To charade on a daily basis!

Branding burns but it hurts,
To know the doing continues to be worshipped...
By those still devoted to hopelessness.
And encouraged to accept this mental process.