Vitriol

https://fivedotoh.com/category/one-word-challenge/

Vitriol means cruel and bitter criticism. It’s origin is French. I think my beat poem accurately sums the definition of vitriol. “In the 1940s and 50s, a new generation of poets rebelled against the conventions of mainstream American life and writing. They became known as the Beat Poets––a name that evokes weariness, down-and-outness, the beat under a piece of music, and beatific spirituality. Beat poets sought to write in an authentic, unfettered style. “First thought, best thought” was how central Beat poet  Allen Ginsberg described their method of spontaneous writing.”

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/147552/an-introduction-to-the-beat-poets

Social Suicide At a splintered glance, the slaughtered branch suggested a new understanding for the dreaded masses, commanding a new meaning for the dying denying their aggressive lying. The persecuted forget, they are not above the light they once sought. A fragile line between life and death thoughts listened with bated breath to the vitriol verses or screaming curses. Silence demanded a skeleton bones to shudder like gelation praying for tenderness beyond this page that lost secrets won’t engage the destruction of mankind. Through the years we refined our lies, and plead naiveté although our reactions betray. Bitter ineptitude, our abandoned view overrides a cowering end because we feel entitled to a godsend.

Awesome synonyms for vitriol are acidity, acridity, acridness, acrimony, asperity, bile, bitterness, cattiness, corrosiveness, mordancy, tartness, and virulence.

I love that I can easily substitute any of the synonyms for vitriol into my poem and not change the meaning. Though it would lose its alliteration.