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hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA

0 posted 2000-03-22 10:07 AM


(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

1 posted 2000-03-22 10:14 AM


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

2 posted 2000-03-22 10:53 AM


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 9245
Illinois
3 posted 2000-03-22 11:06 AM


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 1024
Indiana, USA
4 posted 2000-03-22 11:30 AM


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 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
5 posted 2000-03-22 11:37 AM


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 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
6 posted 2000-03-22 12:16 PM


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 28049
California
7 posted 2000-03-22 03:05 PM


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 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
8 posted 2000-03-22 03:25 PM


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 5842
Lansing, MI USA
9 posted 2000-03-22 03:30 PM


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 157
Miami, FL.
10 posted 2000-03-22 03:53 PM


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 1787
Aloha, Oregon
11 posted 2000-03-22 04:38 PM


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 22612
Hurricane Alley
12 posted 2000-03-22 07:06 PM


Agree
Agree
Agree
Agree


Yep! This is a great poem!!!!

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
13 posted 2000-03-22 07:16 PM


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 7666
California
14 posted 2000-03-22 07:19 PM


And you never roared more beautifully, Ruth.
Great poem.

michael


Rosalind Palafox
Registered
Member
Posts 88

15 posted 2000-03-22 07:26 PM


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 5167
state of confusion
16 posted 2000-03-22 07:26 PM


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 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
17 posted 2000-03-22 09:01 PM


You've come a long way.... LAAAADY!!..
Tess
Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 288
Australia
18 posted 2000-03-22 09:20 PM


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 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
19 posted 2000-03-22 09:25 PM


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
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
20 posted 2000-03-22 10:00 PM


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.*~
noles1@totcon.com


hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
21 posted 2000-03-23 10:12 AM


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

22 posted 2000-03-23 11:11 AM


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 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
23 posted 2000-03-23 10:56 PM


David...thank you  
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration
24 posted 2000-03-24 09:38 PM


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

25 posted 2000-03-24 09:51 PM


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 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
26 posted 2000-03-25 01:45 AM


Thanks Chris and Claire  
christies heart
Member
since 1999-08-10
Posts 189
NJ, USA
27 posted 2000-03-25 07:53 AM


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 3079
Southern Florida
28 posted 2000-03-25 08:11 AM


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 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
29 posted 2000-03-25 10:06 AM


Thanks Shannon and Christies Heart  
Danny Holloway
Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034
Tulsa, OK
30 posted 2000-03-25 10:33 AM



~~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 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
31 posted 2000-03-25 10:50 AM


Oh...I've never been a ten before   Thanks Danny  
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