35 Poems About Betrayal

Written by Dan

Betrayal is a complex emotion that often leaves us grappling with feelings of confusion, hurt, and anger. Poetry, with its ability to capture the depth and nuances of human emotions, serves as a cathartic medium to express and understand this difficult experience.

In this collection, “Poems About Betrayal”, we delve into the raw and profound world of betrayal through verse.

From the subtle sting of dishonesty in friendships to the devastating blow of infidelity in romantic relationships, these poems paint a vivid picture of the many faces of betrayal.

Journey with us as we explore the heart-wrenching pain, the struggle for forgiveness, and the quiet strength of moving on, all encapsulated in these poignant verses.

Related: For more, check out our Poems About Hamlet  here.

free verse poems

Five Free Verse Poems About Betrayal

1. The Unseen Dagger

In the quiet, unguarded moments,

A friend’s smile turned into an unseen dagger,

Words dripping with honey, hiding venom underneath.

Betrayal, you are a silent thief in the night,

Stealing trust, leaving behind a shell of disbelief.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. Shadows of Love

Love once bloomed like a resplendent rose,

Now, it lies wilted, trampled by deceit.

Promises whispered in the soft glow of dawn,

Become echoes in the shadows of betrayal.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

3. Mirage of Loyalty

Loyalty was but a mirage in the arid desert of treachery,

Quenched by the illusion of faithfulness, I journeyed on.

Only to be scorched by the harsh reality,

Betrayal, you are the cruel sun, relentless and unforgiving.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

4. A Symphony of Disillusionment

Trust played a beautiful symphony,

Harmony resonating in every shared secret, every shared laugh.

But betrayal, you struck a discordant note,

And now, all I hear is the cacophony of disillusionment.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

5. The Unraveled Tapestry

We wove a tapestry of shared dreams and shared hopes,

Colorful threads intertwining, creating a vibrant picture.

Betrayal, you unraveled it all, thread by thread,

Leaving behind a tattered canvas of broken bonds.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

Related: For more, check out our Poems About Romeo And Juliet here.

Haiku Poem

Five Haiku Poems About Betrayal

1. Trust’s Demise

Trust once sturdy oak,

Betrayal’s wind leaves it broke,

Heart wears the cloak.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. Shadows of Deceit

In friendship’s bright light,

Shadows of deceit take flight,

Day turns into night.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

3. Echoes of Falsehood

Words sweet as spring’s song,

Echoes of falsehood prolong,

Right feels so wrong.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

4. Love’s Illusion

Love, a blooming rose,

Betrayal’s frostbite imposes,

Petal by petal, it goes.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

5. Broken Bonds

Ties woven with care,

Betrayal’s scissors lay bare,

The pain we now share.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

Related: For more, check out our article on Poems About Heartbreak here.

Limerick

Five Limerick Poems About Betrayal

1. The Bitter Taste of Betrayal

There once was a bond, strong and tight,

In shadows, it lost all its light.

Betrayal’s bitter taste,

Laid the trust to waste,

Left behind was a pitiful sight.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. A Friend’s Deceit

A friend who was trusted so well,

Cast on me a deceitful spell.

In his lies, I did sink,

Pushed me to the brink,

In my heart now, betrayal does dwell.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

3. Love’s Dismay

In love’s garden, a rose did sway,

Betrayal made it decay.

Thorns of deceit took hold,

A story of pain, untold,

In the ruins of trust, I lay.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

4. The Sting of Treachery

There was a sting, sharp and sly,

Treachery’s mark, making me cry.

Trust was broken, bonds torn,

In the heart, betrayal was born,

Under the weight of lies, I sigh.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

5. The Echoes of Falsehood

Echoes of falsehood ring clear,

In the heart, they instill fear.

Betrayal, you’re a cruel jest,

Leaving one in unrest,

In the mirror of trust, you smear.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

Related: For more, check out our article on Poems About Love here.

Tanka

Five Tanka Poems About Betrayal

1. The Unseen Wound

Trust was a fortress,

Betrayal, the unseen wound,

A dagger in dark.

Fragile heart left shattered,

In love’s ruins, I am marooned.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. Echoes of Deceit

In the silent night,

Echoes of deceit take flight.

Promises now rust,

Betrayal breaks the trust,

Day surrenders to the blight.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

3. Love’s Illusion

Love bloomed like spring’s rose,

Betrayal, the winter’s throes.

Petals fall, one by one,

Under the setting sun,

The pain of deceit grows.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

4. The Broken Symphony

Trust played a sweet song,

Betrayal struck a wrong gong.

Melody turns sour,

In the dwindling hour,

Harmony doesn’t belong.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

5. Frayed Threads of Bond

Threads of bond so strong,

Betrayal proved them wrong.

Trust frayed, ties severed,

In the heart, forever,

The scars of deceit belong.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

Sonnet

Five Sonnet Poems About Betrayal

1. The Dagger of Deceit

In the heart of trust, a sharp blade does dwell,

Betrayal’s mark, a scar that time can’t heal.

A friend once close, now an empty shell,

A bond broken, too deep to ever seal.

Promises made, then shattered like frail glass,

Laughter shared, now echoes of the past.

The joy once bright, now a somber mass,

A friendship thought to forever last.

Yet in the rubble, a lesson does lie,

In the sting of deceit, a truth is born.

Though betrayal does cause the soul to cry,

From its ashes, strength is often shorn.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. Shadows of Falsehood

In the twilight of trust, shadows emerge,

Falsehood’s silhouette, a grim reaper’s urge.

An ally turned foe, where love and hate merge,

On the canvas of life, a dark smudge.

Words once sweet, now bitter on my tongue,

The melody of us, a song unsung.

From the tree of loyalty, a branch swung,

A tale of betrayal, a bell unrung.

Yet in the darkness, a beacon does gleam,

In the pit of despair, hope does dream.

For every tear shed, for every scream,

There’s a dawn breaking, with a new sunbeam.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

3. Echoes of Treachery

In the silence of faith, whispers grow loud,

Echoes of treachery, beneath a shroud.

A comrade’s mask falls, revealing the proud,

In the theater of life, a tragic crowd.

Dreams once shared, now nightmares in my sleep,

The bond we had, a chasm so deep.

From the book of trust, a page we can’t keep,

A story of betrayal, a wound so steep.

Yet in the sorrow, a spark does ignite,

In the heartache, courage takes flight.

Though betrayal may steal the day’s light,

The stars of resilience shine bright in the night.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

4. The Mirage of Loyalty

In the oasis of friendship, a mirage does play,

Loyalty’s illusion, a cruel trick of the day.

A confidant’s true colors, a dismal gray,

In the garden of life, a thorn in the hay.

Smiles once genuine, now masks of deceit,

The rhythm of us, a beat now obsolete.

From the river of faith, a current too fleet,

A saga of betrayal, a defeat so bittersweet.

Yet in the desert, a cactus stands tall,

In the face of treachery, it doesn’t fall.

For every betrayal, for every brawl,

There’s a resilience that answers the call.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

5. The Ghost of Betrayal

In the mansion of love, a ghost does dwell,

Betrayal’s specter, a haunting spell.

A lover’s true nature, a tolling bell,

In the symphony of life, a discordant cell.

Kisses once warm, now icy and cold,

The dance of us, a tale untold.

From the heart’s vault, secrets unfold,

A narrative of betrayal, a saga so old.

Yet in the haunted halls, a flame does burn,

In the face of deceit, we live and learn.

Though betrayal may cause the world to turn,

There’s a strength within, a tide that will return.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

Ode

Five Ode Poems About Betrayal

1. Ode to the Unseen Dagger

Oh unseen dagger, that cuts so deep,

In the heart of trust where secrets we keep.

Betrayal, you are a cruel and heartless thief,

Leaving us in shock and disbelief.

You turn friend to foe, love to hate,

You twist and distort our very fate.

Yet, in your wake, we find our strength innate,

To rise from ashes, to recreate.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. Ode to the Silent Whispers

Silent whispers in the dark of night,

Betrayal, you are a menacing sprite.

Turning allies into shadows, causing fright,

In the theatre of life, you incite.

Once sweet words turned bitter and cold,

A tale of deceit and lies untold.

Yet, from this pain, courage takes hold,

In the face of treachery, we become bold.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

3. Ode to the Shattered Promises

Shattered promises, broken dreams,

Betrayal, you are as harsh as it seems.

You turn laughter into silent screams,

And sunny days into moonbeams.

Trust once solid, now a crumbling wall,

A friendship’s downfall, a tragic fall.

Yet, from these ruins, we stand tall,

Learning, growing, through it all.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

4. Ode to the Mask of Deceit

Mask of deceit, a facade so cruel,

Betrayal, you are a merciless tool.

Turning joy into sorrow, making us a fool,

In the game of life, you overrule.

Smiles once genuine, now no more,

A bond of loyalty, now sore.

Yet, in this hurt, we find our core,

Stronger, wiser, than before.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

5. Ode to the Ghost of Treachery

Ghost of treachery, a haunting specter,

Betrayal, you are life’s defector.

Turning love into disdain, an unwelcome vector,

In the symphony of existence, you are the selector.

Kisses once warm, now a chilling breeze,

A dance of us, brought to its knees.

Yet, in this betrayal, we find our keys,

To unlock resilience, to set our hearts at ease.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

Villanelle Poem

Five Villanelle Poems About Betrayal

1. Betrayal’s Bitter Bite

In the heart’s chambers, betrayal takes its seat,

Causing love to wane, trust starts to retreat.

The sting of deceit, a wound so deep and neat.

Once bloomed in friendship, now sows bitter wheat,

In the garden of trust, lies are discreet.

In the heart’s chambers, betrayal takes its seat.

Like a thief in the night, it is so replete,

Stealing joy and peace with its cruel deceit,

The sting of deceit, a wound so deep and neat.

Unseen, unheard, until its work’s complete,

Leaving behind a soul feeling obsolete.

In the heart’s chambers, betrayal takes its seat.

To heal, to mend, seems an impossible feat,

The scar remains, a reminder of the cheat.

The sting of deceit, a wound so deep and neat.

Betrayal’s bitter bite, a painful repeat,

A song of sorrow, on a loop, on a beat.

In the heart’s chambers, betrayal takes its seat,

The sting of deceit, a wound so deep and neat.

By Dan Higgins 2024

2. The Dagger of Deceit

With a smile, you wielded the dagger of deceit,

A promise broken, a bond turned obsolete.

In the shadows of trust, betrayal found its feat.

We danced, we laughed, our hearts skipped a beat,

Not knowing the end would be so bittersweet.

With a smile, you wielded the dagger of deceit.

Lies woven into a tapestry so neat,

Underneath the surface, the truth took a backseat.

In the shadows of trust, betrayal found its feat.

You played the game, oh so very complete,

A master of illusion, a trickster so elite.

With a smile, you wielded the dagger of deceit.

The echoes of your lies, they still repeat,

A haunting melody, a rhythm so petite.

In the shadows of trust, betrayal found its feat.

A love story turned into a tragic defeat,

Betrayal, the villain, never accepts defeat.

With a smile, you wielded the dagger of deceit,

In the shadows of trust, betrayal found its feat.

By Dan Higgins 2024

3. The Echoes of Betrayal

The echoes of betrayal, a chilling retreat,

In the halls of trust, they resonate and repeat.

A symphony of sorrow, played on deceit’s sheet.

You promised to stay, to never admit defeat,

But your words were hollow, your actions discreet.

The echoes of betrayal, a chilling retreat.

Your mask fell off, revealing the deceit,

A phantom of love, an illusion so complete.

A symphony of sorrow, played on deceit’s sheet.

The ashes of our love, beneath your deceitful feet,

A bond once strong, now crushed and obsolete.

The echoes of betrayal, a chilling retreat.

A tale of love, turned sour and bittersweet,

Betrayal’s cold hand, a touch so concrete.

A symphony of sorrow, played on deceit’s sheet.

In the end, betrayal claimed the ultimate feat,

Leaving behind a wound that time can’t treat.

The echoes of betrayal, a chilling retreat,

A symphony of sorrow, played on deceit’s sheet.

By Dan Higgins 2024

4. The Shadows of Deceit

The shadows of deceit, a path so replete,

Where love lost its way, and trust faced defeat.

In the garden of promises, betrayal tastes so sweet.

You painted a picture, oh so very complete,

A masterpiece of lies, a canvas so neat.

The shadows of deceit, a path so replete.

Our laughter, our joy, your deceit did deplete,

Turning our dreams into a bitter retreat.

In the garden of promises, betrayal tastes so sweet.

A game of love, a charade so elite,

You played your cards well, a gambler so discreet.

The shadows of deceit, a path so replete.

The echoes of your lies, they still repeat,

A haunting reminder of our love’s defeat.

In the garden of promises, betrayal tastes so sweet.

Betrayal’s sting, a wound that won’t treat,

A scar on the heart, a memory to keep.

The shadows of deceit, a path so replete,

In the garden of promises, betrayal tastes so sweet.

By Dan Higgins 2024

5. The Symphony of Betrayal

The symphony of betrayal, a tune so bittersweet,

Where trust danced to the rhythm of deceit.

In the orchestra of love, your lies were the beat.

Your words were soothing, your promises neat,

But underneath it all, your intentions were replete.

The symphony of betrayal, a tune so bittersweet.

Our memories, our moments, turned obsolete,

As your deceit unfolded, our love faced defeat.

In the orchestra of love, your lies were the beat.

Betrayal’s melody, a song on repeat,

Echoing through the halls of trust, a tragic feat.

The symphony of betrayal, a tune so bittersweet.

The echoes of your lies, they still compete,

With the remnants of our love, a story incomplete.

In the orchestra of love, your lies were the beat.

In the end, betrayal claimed the ultimate seat,

Leaving behind a heart that’s broken and beat.

The symphony of betrayal, a tune so bittersweet,

In the orchestra of love, your lies were the beat.

By Dan Higgins 2024

This article serves not only as a mirror to reflect the pain inflicted by deceit but also as a beacon guiding towards healing and understanding.

The words woven in these verses echo with the universal experiences of hurt, confusion, and anger – emotions that betrayal often leaves in its wake.

Yet, they also resonate with resilience, echoing the strength it takes to forgive and the courage it requires to move forward. As you navigate through your own experiences with betrayal, may these poems provide solace, provoke thought, and ultimately, inspire hope.

Through their raw honesty and profound depth, let them remind you that even in the face of betrayal, the human spirit possesses an astounding capacity to heal, grow, and triumph.

About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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