»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #6
»
You Can't Make Me
| Open Poetry #6 |
|
You Can't Make Me |
|
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
|
(I have to add a little disclaimer to this one so I am not overwhelmed with replies asking me if I’m okay. Actually, I am fine  this is just something that needed written out. Despite the obvious sad overtones to this piece, I am elated to be able to write it, to the point where I almost titled it “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar”...lol. Anyway, this poem, I think, says a great deal coming from someone who played dead for over 15 years...isn’t life and freedom grand? )You Can’t Make Me You can dress me in designer clothes; paint my face in the latest shades; and show me off to the world ...but you can never make me perfect. You can find all my missing pieces; coat me in super glue; and put me back together again ...but you can never make me complete. You can bind me with your possessiveness; shackle me with fear; and beat me to submission ...but you can never own me. You can pretend that everything is all right; lay me down beside you; and take my body ...but you can never make me love you. The poet's job is to put into words those feelings we all have that are so deep, so important, and yet so difficult to name, to tell the truth in such a beautiful way that people cannot live without it. ~Jane Kenyon |
||
| © Copyright 2000 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Hoot...you go girl...you "roar" with strength and grace in this...isnt the release that comes when we write so perfect...i related to this so well. I too walked arouund "dead" for years...no one told me...they were afraid I'd lay down and no one would do their laundry  ...stay strong friend and you can say baby... baby can I hold you tonight maybe if told you the right words... at the right time, you'd be mine... baby can I hold you tonight... tracy chapman |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Ain't that the truth!! Well spoken Ruth!! My sentiments exactly! I didn't find this to have sad undertones though at all. What hit me was the inner strength of the writer! Denise |
||
|
WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
WOOHOO!!! You go! I love it, I love it!!!! I agree with Denise, it is full of strength Ruth! Wish I had written this one, and though I love every line for they all speak so much truth to me, I just love the next to last stanza! Way to go!! <*\\\>< There's only two ways you can go... One way you can save your riches, And the other will save your soul. Rich Mullins |
||
|
INclan Senior Member
since 1999-07-20
Posts 1024Indiana, USA |
Ruth, A powerful inspiration! I am glad you provided a disclaimer. I would have been rushing to your aid. I do feel bad for the experiences that drove you to write this. HUGS! INclan |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Oh Inclan...the thought of you rushing to my aid almost makes me wish I wouldn't have posted the disclaimer Thank you Janet Marie...not a pleasant feeling being dead and not knowing it, but even more unpleasant is being dead inside and feeling helpless to do anything about it. I'm glad that both of us have begun to live once more Denise and Rebecca...thank you my dear friends...it is people like you who give me my strength |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Gee, thanks, Ruth.  I shall now go through the rest of the day with thoughts of coating you in super glue  |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ruth this is wonderful and strong and made me feel so proud of you...Hugs!! Oh, it's also a great poem. |
||
|
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Hoot Owl nice to read that you've come out of that hell and now you are enjoying the beauty of this life. I know that it is a journey and I hope for special blessings to come into your life. James |
||
|
Lone Wolf Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842Lansing, MI USA |
Hoot Owl....I hear that roar loud and clear!!! Inner strength is priceless, isn't it? Excellent work!!! Friends are friend forever if the Lord's the Lord of them and a friend will not say never cause the welcome will not end. --Michael W. Smith |
||
|
Broken Wings Member
since 2000-03-18
Posts 157Miami, FL. |
I LOVE IT....I LOVE IT!!! Poems like these just make me want to stand up and ROAR too! take care, Broken Wings "As you learn and grow, you will realize the greater the pain, the greater the growth." -IYANLA VANZANT |
||
|
PhaerieChild Senior Member
since 1999-08-30
Posts 1787Aloha, Oregon |
Wow! Wish I'd have written this! This is exactly how I felt when with the ex. Very strong, very powerful and I don't see sadness, I see some awesome inner spirit that is not to be trifled with. Very inspirational!!! Poetry~ Words falling on paper, painting a dream. Shawna R. Holder Boise, Idaho |
||
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Agree Agree Agree Agree Yep! This is a great poem!!!! |
||
|
Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
And the grandstand is cheering! Wow, Ruth, this is wonderfully powerful stuff! This one should be written across the sky! Well done Liz |
||
|
Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
And you never roared more beautifully, Ruth. Great poem. michael |
||
|
Rosalind Palafox
Registered
MemberPosts 88 |
i liked this poem a lot! It is soo true! Wish I could've come up with this poem, "Love knows hidden paths."-German proverb |
||
|
Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
You go girl! Hey, Ruth, I've done the playing dead routine myself, it's probably the worst place to be, because you don't know you're there until things get real bad, right? And then, it takes forever to find you again, and even longer to get out of that relationship! It takes strength, and you have obviously got plenty of that! Corinne |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
You've come a long way.... LAAAADY!!..  |
||
|
Tess Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 288Australia |
I thought this was a really strong and positve poem..and I could relate to it so much.... |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Tess, Nan, Rosiland, Michael, Lone Wolf, Broken Wings, and PDV....thank you all Balladeer...lol, leave it to you my friend Martie...hugs right back to you and thanks dear Jim...thank you very much, that means a great deal Wildchild and Corinne...I'm only sorry you know how this feels  Thank you both for your words Liz...you are a dear, thank you |
||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Hoot~ A kitten looking in the mirror loves the roaring lioness' reflection.  Love to you, gal ! ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Marge...I still have that poem of yours on the stationary and it still remains amoung my favorites of yours...sometimes when I look into the mirror, I see both sides, the lion and the kitten...it's getting a healthy combination of the two that is the hard part |
||
|
David2 Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 407 |
Wow, this is very powerful. I loved it. Thank you for your kind words about my work, I am not sure if I am ready to try publishing. I am really enjoying being a part of this forum though. I am also glad to know that you are fine. I believe poetry is terribly therapeutic and I use it myself in that manner. I can't empathize with your circumstances but I can empathize with your pain. Great poem! David2 |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
David...thank you |
||
|
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
You can bind me with your possessiveness; shackle me with fear; and beat me to submission ...but you can never own me. Never. You're a free soul and it's always amazing to watch you fly Ruth. |
||
|
Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
So much of your beauty lies within your strength...this piece states that with confidence. Wonderful, Ruth. ~ Claire |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thanks Chris and Claire |
||
|
christies heart Member
since 1999-08-10
Posts 189NJ, USA |
What can I say? I love it and relate so well to the message. I don't see it as a "are you okay" eliciting poem, rather I see the great strength in you..and the long time struggle for women in general. (If the 'Woman hear me roar" title wasn't done already it would be perfect..but I love your title too!) Grant that I may not judge my niegbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasians Native American prayer |
||
|
Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
What can I say that already hasn't been said ? Except ... Bravo, my friend!!!! Powerful piece, Ruth .... A soul that writes from the heart and shares it, truly gives a gift extraordinaire! Shannon |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thanks Shannon and Christies Heart |
||
|
Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
~~A perfect "10" on my scorecard~~~ A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives. |
||
|
hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Oh...I've never been a ten before Thanks Danny |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
