The Mere Mention of His Name (Poetry)

Just speak his name and from your tongue pure venom starts to drip -
a spiteful stream as undiluted hatred curls your lip
in scorn, and you deride him, curse the very air he breathes,
denounce him as the Devil's spawn, the wickedest of thieves.

Such fierce and bitter loathing turns your smile into a sneer,
you spit your condemnation while I swallow my own fear
and wonder what foul crime or deed could make you wish him ill -
what livid wound did he inflict that bleeds and festers still?

Was he the murderer of Love, the slayer of your dreams
who stole Youth's trusting innocence and turned your heart so mean?
Maybe, but as small faux pas go, it borders on insane
that such a torrent is unleashed on mention of his name!

A word of warning from a friend - I urge you, try to find
a way to exorcise your rage, wipe malice from your mind,
lay angry ghosts, forgive, forget - for life is far too brief
to nurse such vengeful thoughts so long and pander to old grief.

Expunge him from your memory, scrub out the mark he made,
allow those wounds to heal to scars and let the scars then fade.
Forget his face, his voice, his touch, and leave yourself no clue,
then years from now, I'll say his name and you will answer "Who?"