In remembering October as National Domestic Abuse Prevention Month

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hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius

since 1999-07-05

Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA

0 posted 2004-10-16 10:52 AM

These poems are reposted from a while ago...
The first is based on a ture story, the 4 year old girl was found and taken to the hospital, the 2 year old brother was found several days later in an abandoned lot stuffed into a suitcase and dead, the mother who beat them both claimed innocence but was later convicted.
Abuse take on many guises, none acceptable at any cost. Please join me in remembering those who've lost their lives to domestic abuse and those who are still living to fight another day.
God bless,
Ruth

Innocence

Multi-colored bruises
cover her skin,
dark against the stark whiteness
of the walls, the sheets, and me.

Motionless and small,
she becomes an extension
of the many machines
keeping her alive.

Seizures rack tiny limbs.
Spasms controlled by fluids
bleed into minuscule veins
through which life’s liquid flows.

Innocent,
she fights for her life
while her mother fights the court
pleading innocence.

Billows fill her lungs,
breathing life into death
while holding the inevitable
off for fractions longer.
The rhythm steady;
the reverberation like poetry
and above it all I hear another sound.
Sobs, now clearly heard,
and I glance around the room
to find the source;
before realizing,
they are coming from me.

__________________________________________________

Shattered

I remember the vase
pale blue etched with white roses
given to me by my great grandmother
shattered
in one of your fits of anger
and I cried
as I picked each tiny fragment
up and placed them in a box
stored for years in the attic
where you or no one else could touch it

I tearfully packed that box
as you laughed in my face
when I finally said I was leaving you
dreams for our future
shattered
by years of abuse
and thrown together with the boxes
into the trunk of my car
as I set out to reclaim my life

Today that vase
sets on my mantle
full of pastel flowers made of silk
lovingly pieced together
by the one who found me
shattered
and located each fragment
I needed to make me complete

If you look close enough
you can see its imperfections
tiny hairline cracks
that refuse to hold water
but yet remains useful
no, we’ll never be perfect
the vase or I
but from a distance
our beauty shines

_____________________________________________
Scars

Standing in front of the mirror,
my hand runs down along my body;
my fingers trace the ragged edges
of the scar.
“Go ahead,
go on with your life.
You are healed,”
they say.
I would like to be able to tell them,
that internal scars take far longer
to heal.

Denise

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-08-22

Posts 22648

1 posted 2004-10-16 12:46 PM

Excellent, Ruth. Abuse can take many forms and the visible scars heal far faster than the interior ones.

We never know what others who cross our paths have been through, or are currently going through, in their personal lives. Keeping that in mind can make it easier to deal with relational difficulties that we encounter.

Thanks for sharing these.

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

2 posted 2004-10-16 01:59 PM

You shed light on the darkest of the dark. Painful to read, but we cannot shy away from such atrocities.

Your vivid portrayals of the violence perpetrated on these children has affected my deeply.

Peace and for the love of children,
EA

Susan
Member Ascendant

since 2004-03-27

Posts 5104
walking the surreal

3 posted 2004-10-16 02:24 PM

Oh my, moves my soul to compassion - and sorrow. The lives shattered by violence - the innocent (my heart cries with the thought of a child being hurt). I applaud those who step out and try to do something to help and urge everyone to support their local shelters and services - rather than garage selling your clothes and toys, think of the women and children's shelters - even that little bit can help. I applaud Ogden Hall and the Venessa Behan Crisis Nursery here in my area - they do good work. And if you've a friend in trouble - reach out-

Fantastic writes, my friend - poignant and touching.

Susan

Happiness isn't something that happens to you, it's created from within you. Joy is a state of mind.

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