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Open Poetry #7
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Familiar Hands (repost for Child Abuse Challenge)
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Familiar Hands (repost for Child Abuse Challenge) |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California 
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FAMILIAR HANDS You're bedroom door opens one night. A silhouette stands in the light. A child squeezing a teddy bear, You can't quite see who's standing there. But in they come, closing the door. Now darkness is there, nothing more. Till someone sits down by your side, As innocense goes the wayside. A soft whisper, a well known voice Tells you in this you have no choice. A touch no child understands, A stranger with familiar hands. Holding your fears over your head, Your sole torment becomes the bed. So you let them have what they must, Vowing never again to trust. You writhe in fear, you become shame, You hate the face behind your name. "You brought this on yourself", you're told. You carry those words till you're old. Then one day upon your vacant stare, In the mirror, seeing no-one there. You realize emotion's dead. You long for love, live in it's dread. What you need, you hate to think of, The touch of someone that you love. To look in eyes, believe they care, To expose your body to share. Now look at you, you're thirty two, And still those hands are touching you. What could you possibly do when, You were merely a child of ten. Michael Anderson |
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| © Copyright 2000 Michael Anderson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Marina Member Elite
since 2000-02-10
Posts 2245Pickering, Ontario |
Michael, this is truly a very powerful and truthful piece. This hit home for I can tell you. Sometimes there is nothing in the world worse then " Familiar Hands" Thank you very much for reposting this perfect poem for our cause. Marina |
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Mistikman Senior Member
since 2000-01-10
Posts 682San Jose, CA, USA |
wow, Michael... the last line of this one reminds me of my poem Abuse I posted up in open #6. |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
M, I was waiting for your post to this challenge, knowing full well it would effect me, (in whatever way your would expresss yourself,) but even I wasn't prepared for how much,how deeply this one does. Normally I highlight the stanza's or lines that effect me the most...there would be no way to pick one out over another in this one...each tear at my heart. I know, you know, too many of us know. I am overwhelmed by the volume of poems being posted here...but I am also stronger by knowing we are all quiet comfort for each other. jm |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Another excellent writing, Michael, I am new here and am coming to expect no less from you. Challenge well met. I am becoming almost speechless in this forum, yesterday and today, as my eyes are full of tears -- my kleenex is on my desk for the next poem on child abuse that I start to read, or write as the past comes flooding back. netswan |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
This is excellent...the title is enough to give you chills...and excellent title for this type of poem..... |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Michael, I think you'd be an excellent person to know. Your sweetness shines through everything you write and your poetic soul retains it's innocence (with the possible exception of the adult room!)no matter what the subject matter! Corinne |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Real, well done---touched my tears. |
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Tara Simms Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244Honea Path, SC USA |
Oh, Michael, this poem touches me. Sometimes parents don't realize the lifelong effects their actions have on their children. You wrote this perfectly. |
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Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
.gif) Michael...as the tears run down my face I can only say.....I know. This was very well written and very powerful. |
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WhiteNite Member
since 2000-04-09
Posts 241Montgomery, AL |
Man... what a night to decide to get back in the mood to read some poetry huh? Every poem I read brings so many sighs... all the poems from this challenge could bring tears to your eyes. A very... well.. there's no single word to descrive this poem Michael... and if I listed all the ones that fit it, you'd just get bored and skip to the next reply... so I'll just say "great poem"  P.S. The first girl I ever dated had an experience like this... "Don't let your character get camoflaged with your environment. Find who you are and let it stay in its true colors." --Rachel Joy Scott |
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mariee66 Senior Member
since 2000-01-30
Posts 596Recess, OfYourMind |
As always, a very well written poem~ Marie~ |
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A Romantic Heart Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496Forever In Your Heart |
very emotional!! |
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Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
BTT |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Marina, Nothing worse, indeed. I am so glad you have posted this challenge. Abuse is so overlooked by society today... too many times the victims feel they are the problem. They carry the guilt and hide in the shadows of society that gives them no rights... Mistik, this piece was originally posted last October just in case you're wondering... Janet, we all are indeed, "quiet comfort" for ane another. netswan, tears are soft healing. Corinne, thank you, your words humble me. Tara, the effects last a lifetime for many. and you're right so many parents think it can just be swept under the carpet, never realizeing the extent of damage they've done. WhiteNite, I don't bore that easily... but thank you. And I know the emotion that swirls in you when someone you care for has been hurt in this manner, believe me I do. Thank you all for the replies. I realize, myself, in reading poems of a nature such as this, one often has no clue as what to say. I have read nearly all the abuse poems posted, and have found them all very touching... but very hard to reply to for my own personal reasons, I guess. Forgive me my silence. Michael |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
nothing to forgive, its understood.(smile) |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
There's just so much here, Michael...and so much to say... |
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Alwye
Moderator
Member Elite
since 1999-06-16
Posts 3850In the space between moments |
Intense pain and power, my friend...I can honestly say I've never been through such a thing, but I've seen lives torn apart by those who have..it's so awful. Phenomenal work Michael. *Krista Knutson* As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as something unfathomably mysterious, thought begins. ~*Albert Schweitzer*~ |
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Marina Member Elite
since 2000-02-10
Posts 2245Pickering, Ontario |
Michael...no I thank you and all those who step forward ( some for the first time) together I know we have made a difference. Hugs always Marina |
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jbowie Member
since 2000-02-18
Posts 135BANGOR (that OR) ME |
horrible. I can not believe how well you brought this out. So damn needless this type of pain, I mean my God how could you do this to your child or anyone? Great response michael. A real man kisses his children goodnight |
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