Open Poetry #10 |
Don't Tell |
Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Don’t Tell Grateful for school days the only place you feel safe although it really isn't, like last year when that boy went nuts in fifth grade class and shot Mrs. Morales with his father’s gun. Still, it’s better than the nights. You used to be able to block it out but it’s been going down since you can remember. Now your periods have started, he says he’ll take precautions - but he also makes you do new things - awful, horrible things and you’re thinking you should run away to California or maybe kill yourself. Lately, Daddy’s been giving you beer helps things feel better, he says, for a while it does until the next morning when you fall asleep at your desk - your grades keep falling because you just can't stay awake. Who can you tell? You can’t tell mother She didn’t believe you before, and there’s too much shame to tell friends or your teacher. He threatens, blames YOU, says don’t tell. You know how wrong it all is but your eyes are dry, they refuse to cry you can’t feel anything at all. © 2000 Corinne Bailey [This message has been edited by Corinne (edited 10-10-2000).] |
||
© Copyright 2000 Corinne - All Rights Reserved | |||
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Very powerful, sad poem, Corinne. I'm sure too many people are living this nightmare. Denise |
||
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Corinne--You speak with such truth of feeling in this powerful poem...I'm sorry to say...I have been there. |
||
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Corinne~ This is such a powerful piece. It aches the heart ... for it's all too familiar for so many. I will be sharing it with my mentor group. It needs to touch those who are going through it or know someone that is. Perhaps it will give them the voice they need to tell someone - anyone. Thanks for sharing this poignant piece. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
||
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
this wrenched me so - I was shaking - If I'd been told it in real time - I'd be looking for a gun or a club to take to that man. |
||
Beth Member
since 2000-07-06
Posts 468WA, Australia |
~This is deeply sad and heartbreaking...For any person to go through so much is devastating....I hope all is well now!!~ ~Cherie~ |
||
Broken_Winged_Angel Senior Member
since 2000-04-06
Posts 994Small Town, Somewhere |
Ouch...This just hit me like a ton of bricks in the stomach. I know what its like to have the nights not be safe. *hugs* You're not the only one out there.. I'm reposting "Thunder Still Scares Me", a poem on the same topic here for you. If you ever need someone to talk to...I'm willing to listen. Very, very well written. With a little piece of tomorrow, You'll have to kiss yesterday goodbye. Because today won't last forever, And the past will only make you cry. |
||
Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Thank you, Denise, a dark topic, difficult to write, but just wanted to be written. Martie, my prayers are with you. Marge, thank you, I'm very touched by your response. I felt a bad feeling after writing it, like a place you don't want to go. Wilfred, thank you. This is not a personal outpouring but rather a voice. Yes, it's maddening to think that that happens in this world. Thank you, Beth and Broken-Winged-Angel, as I said, this is not specific to me, although we probably all have our share of dark memories - families are almost all dysfunctional in one way or another, aren't they? Corinne |
||
vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Corinne- WOW! I have to echo Marge's words... this is extremely powerful. I have spent many years working with children of all ages and have seen many scary situations. In many cases, these children don't feel like they have a voice. I too will be sharing this in hopes that it will touch someone and give them the strength to tell. Thank you so much for this. -vicky < !signature--> "...until you have read the verse on his heart, you have not truely met the poet." -vlraynes [This message has been edited by vlraynes (edited 10-10-2000).] |
||
Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Vickie, thank you, I feel honored by both you and Marge. Corinne |
||
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Thank you for sharing this message in a very straightforward yet tender way...James |
||
Dee Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330Queensland, Australia |
Corrine, I agree, this is a story that must be told no matter how unpallatable. You have done it so well. Dee |
||
Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
All I can do is give you a hug with tears in my eyes for this one~ |
||
Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Sad...and very powerful....I do hope this isn't a true to your life poem. My name isn't Baby, and I don't want to cyber. |
||
Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Corinne, its takes courage to write for these voices that can't. Bravo on this on. Park |
||
Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Thank you for your sensitive and caring responses, James, Dee, Butterflies_Don't_Cry, Temptress and Park. No, this one isn't from personal experience, sometimes the darkness just comes out, you know what I mean. Corinne |
||
Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
This made me cry, because there is so much truth to it. "When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass, and the sun drips honey."" Laurie Lee Kathleen |
||
brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
Powerful poem, childhood is not always easy especially in this day and age. "an afixiation a fix on anything the line of life the limb of a tree the hands of he and the promise that s/he is blessed among women". Patti Smith |
||
inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
Another childhood has been stolen because no one to tell the dirty secret to. Why is it children are made to feel as if it was all their fault. My heart is breaking for this I do know about. |
||
Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Thank you for responding, Irish, Brian and Inout. This one disturbs me, I don't know where it came from. Corinne |
||
⇧ top of page ⇧ | ||
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. |