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Mysteria
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since 2001-03-07
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British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2001-05-21 04:27 PM





On Broken Wings


Her broken wings goes unnoticed, in hidden tears.
Each tear mirrors thoughts of shame and fear.
Like torrents of rain beating on a tight drum,
They play out the past like an ancient ritual,
Over and over, the drums become louder and louder!

Her thoughts flow downstream in sluices,
So cold, spine tingling, chilling, and surreal.
Biting a lip to silence a scream of recollection,
They send shards of pain like electricity.
Flashbacks play over and over like a skipping record.

They torture and torment her body and soul,
Her dignity squeezed from within like a dirty dishrag,
And she feels so filthy and covered in shame.
Like some movie reel going too fast now,
The scene plays over and over in her mind.

She wished he had killed her; he had come so close,
She felt the coldness of the steel, on her hot chest.
The five scars that remained from his anger are visual.
Yes, you can see them, but it is the ones you can’t see,
That continues to dissect her like morning butcher’s meat.

Most days, thoughts come streaming in on her wings in horror.
So many times has she re-lived it, over and over, feeling it.
Every time, re-living the degrading, sick, violation done.
It took him only five minutes to change her life,
Only five minutes to suck the love from her heart and soul.

Each day becomes a challenge to simply walk with pride,
Constantly watching over her shoulder to see her wings intact.
Feelings that were natural, trust, love, believing in man,
Fall at her feet unnoticed like floating feathers.


~* With respect this is dedicated *~
to all survivors of rape

Artist: Dianne Rivers
music: My Child

~*~ I write ~ Therefore I am ~*~
Homepage: http://www.mysteria-poetry.cityslide.com/contents/contents.cfm/451673

© Copyright 2001 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved
JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
1 posted 2001-05-21 04:36 PM


"Feelings that were natural, trust, love, believing in man.
Fall at her feet unnatural like floating feathers."
You have written well of a sad subject...James



Auguste
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since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953
By the sea
2 posted 2001-05-21 05:41 PM


Sharon,

It would be my hope that every man could read this poem and know how rape could so change and torment a woman's life.  I wish you peace, my friend, and healing.

Michael    

Proust-
"Love is space and time measured by the heart"

Morgoth
Junior Member
since 2001-05-21
Posts 26
Baltimore, MD
3 posted 2001-05-21 06:06 PM


This is absolutely stunning and powerful. Its a shame anything like that exists, but that is the nature of the world. The picture is perfect for the poem also.
Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

4 posted 2001-05-21 07:19 PM


It took him only five minutes to change her life,
Only five minutes to suck the love from her heart and soul.

Each day becomes a challenge to simply walk with pride,
Constantly watching over her shoulder to see her wings intact.
Feelings that were natural, trust, love, believing in man,
Fall at her feet unnoticed like floating feathers.
====================

Sharon this is disturbing and powerful piece of writing,
and speaks volumes to the truths no one wants to see...
one moment in time can forever change, forever scar...
when humanity, dignity,innocence, and trust are taken away the wounds are often unhealing.
And this kind of loss can come in many forms of abuse.
For those who live it...you have my compassion and prayers.
well done poetess Mysteria

We wish ourselves beautiful,
we cry in the night.
Its not the love you fear ...
its the fall from the height.
~Edwin McCain~

Mysteria
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since 2001-03-07
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British Columbia, Canada
5 posted 2001-05-22 12:58 PM


James Michael: Thank you for acknowledging the aftermath of this type of tragedy, as it never, ever goes away for the victims.

Auguste: Thank you for the empahthy shown for victims of this abuse, and I too wish this were on the walls of men's washrooms, or something similar, as it only takes seconds to change a life forever.  Thank you.

Morgoth: It was not until I found this art could I even write about this, and I am glad the message is clear, thank you so much.

Janet Marie: YOU speak volumes on the subject, and rape is not the only violation that can sometimes not be reversed, verbal abuse can sometimes be worse, for a scar heals, but how do you once again make some one feel whole?  Thank you for your response, acknowledgement of this violation is imperative to stop it!

Thank you all for those that suffer daily!

Martha Cowan
Member
since 2001-03-08
Posts 240
Groves, Texas
6 posted 2001-05-22 07:03 AM


Sharon, this brought me to tears, a subject I can well relate to as well...
I know how this has caused you so much pain, but somehow you have managed to get those wings back into the air...and you are soaring above the memories that can be so binding and draining.  When we find times along the way our wings begin to tire from the storms of yesterday...we'll simply FLY TOGETHER....(smiles to you)
Hugs and wishes that your day is wonderful.
Love ya muches, dawn


Secret Whisper
Member
since 2001-01-25
Posts 298
Through the Looking Glass
7 posted 2001-05-22 08:58 AM


Wonderful piece, and so moving. The horrors are so wonderfully expressed with the imagery of the internal scars. I loved it.

"What I was living, the same am I now, dead." --Capaneus, THE INFERNO

Lady In White
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Member Elite
since 2001-02-12
Posts 2799
USA
8 posted 2001-05-22 09:01 AM


You have written this quite well, to take the soul of another, and transform it when they cannot, so that all can see the terror and suffering done, and received....

I applaud you my dear, for something that is never easy to do.

Mabel A. Dilley
Senior Member
since 2001-03-17
Posts 859
Seattle, WA, USA
9 posted 2001-05-22 12:23 PM


Excellent poetic treatment of a difficult subject. There needs to be much more education aimed at male audiences than there is currently, along with rage management. Many continue to believe that rape is a sexual act only. In actuallity rape is rage-filled violence toward women. As usual most of our education on this matter is aimed toward providing women with information rather than men. Enough. Off my soap box.

"I am not now that which I have been."

suthern
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
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Louisiana
10 posted 2001-05-22 04:56 PM


Very well written, very powerful poem.

[This message has been edited by suthern (edited 05-23-2001).]

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
11 posted 2001-05-22 05:57 PM


I really can't think of words to  respond to your powerful poetry...just know I read it..and was touched by the strenth of your words

~Wynter

"The worst prison would be a closed heart".
...Pope John Paul II



Sven
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East Lansing, MI USA
12 posted 2001-05-22 06:06 PM


this is superb. . . every man who cares about women should read this. . . and every man who doesn't should read this as well. . .

excellent. . .

---------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

Irish Rose
Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

13 posted 2001-05-22 06:09 PM


Thank you for a presentation that should allow every woman the dignity she was born with!   Well done.

Kathleen Blake

"When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass,
and the sun drips honey."
Laurie Lee


Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
14 posted 2001-05-22 07:47 PM


Very moving and disressing
The truth well presented in this piece
I hope all will read this one
Liz

Mysteria
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British Columbia, Canada
15 posted 2001-05-23 02:04 AM


I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your responses. I so want to tell you that this is "just a poem" but this is reality at its worst.  Well, quite simply I saw a piece of art that I felt would lend itself to the subject of rape, and I am so glad you all appreciated what I was trying to present, as this is a subject so prevalent in society today.  I had a girl in mind when I wrote this that went on an internet date, and was given a drug "Black Beauty" in her drink, needless to say, she she now flys with a broken wing, but she was a lucky one, some die from that drug! Thanks again for your support of this piece.
Watersign6
Senior Member
since 2001-05-25
Posts 823
Hurricane,WV
16 posted 2001-06-05 09:19 AM


this is a reality you write about so well
and i wish it never happened but it does unfortunately and this poem had tears streaming down my face when i read it because
i know so many women and girls go through this and it strips them of everything,your poem should be read to all men well actually to all abusers so they would know what their
actions cause the victims,thank you for writing this  

Mysteria
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British Columbia, Canada
17 posted 2001-06-05 01:15 PM


Watersign6: I do volunteer with abused victims, as I was a victim, so know first hand how long and how badly this sticks with you, but you have to let it go and move on, as 99% of the time they were just that, a "victim", and must learn to be a survivor!

~*~ Remember to tell someone today that you love them ~*~

[This message has been edited by Mysteria (edited 06-05-2001).]

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