A Discordant Tribe

Once this tribe was a creative tribe,

a place of wonder and excitement,

something I looked forward to going to,

something that built up my writing,

instead of tearing it down.

Times slowly changed over time,

allegiances grew strained,

and leadership took its toll.

Once I'd had feelings for her,

my fellow ally in this creative endeavor.

But slowly I realized the person behind the mask.

My feelings of goodwill withered and died,

as her true intentions became manifest.

She said nothing but I knew she wanted to seize the reins.

Once it was a creative tribe, a fun gathering, yet now...

it is no more than a glorified lecture.

Throughout my time, I saw the cracks.

Her manipulative actions, the hypocrisy,

the darkness.

I struggled back. Fought for change,

and to my surprise, I won.

For a time the manipulation, the hypocrisy,

the darkness parted and my hope began to grow.

Yet in time, they returned and I slowly realized.

All the things I'd thought to change,

had been for naught.

I prefer to remember the tribe for what it once was,

for people, I once knew and stories I shared.

Not for the torment and suffering

that haunts the discordant tribe.