I could dance for you like the sultan's whore,
Or I can be as pure as undriven snow,
Still untouched in the blue hushed moonlight.
I can be the teacher's pet in my short skirt,
Or the one always sitting in the principal's office,
Just waiting to be taken down a notch or two.
I can be the smiling face you wake to each morning,
Or the battered wife, afraid to breathe,
Who hides her bruises beneath this mask.
What is your choosing, O'Puppet Master,
What is your pleasure today?
Author notes
OPTION 1
I have lived a full life of abuse. Abondanement, neglect, sexual, physical, emotional, verbal and my soul remembers every moment of fear. Now I see that the devil loves this loathing of oneself and uses the pain we have suffered, especially as children, to barr us from happiness and joy in adulthood.
We the undeserving, do deserve happiness. We the beaten down, deserve to stand upright. We the unworthly, are worthy of great happiness. We who have lived our lives hidden in the darkness, shut away from joy, deserve the bright day of a new beginning. It is my prayer that we all have... that bright day of a new beggining.
A contest entry
- Two Faced But In A Different Head Space by Girl With Guitar.
700 points, ended November 24, 2007, 26 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - OCTOBER is Violence Against Women Awareness Month by DragonBlue.
2600 points, ended November 10, 2008, 44 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 19 of 19
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Oh my dear that was a painful read. It's one of those horrible moments where someone hurts tremendously. It hurt my heart yet you spoke the truth so openly as to how many battered women feel each day of their lives. It's a horrendous thing for men to believe they may hurt a women as such. I congratulate you on the hm you wrote this piece wonderfully! Thank you for sharing. Hugs~Nikki
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This runs very deep. It really dealves into the psyche of someone who has been or is abused and plays a role to the world, or even deeper psychologically, suffers from denial, dissociation or split personality disorder from it.
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Powerful!
This is an amazing and powerful write! It is true that many of us who are abused learn to wear a thousand different masks just to survive. This poem is so sad but it carries such an important message for all who struggle with these issues. You did a great job with this, and in turn will help many others to know they are not alone. Blessings, Patty
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Wow! What a clear picture of contrasts...and of being under someone else's control.
This is very well written! I see feel the being jerked back and forth...unable...or not allowed...to make your own choice.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to understand my little poem. I am always, as any writer would be, so pleased when a reader sees the picture I am trying to paint with words. THANKS AGAIN!
BLESSINGS, Doris
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I could relate so much to your amazing write. As a survivor of both child and spousal abuse. Thanks for sharing, abuse of anykind needs to stop!!
Theresa
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Thanks Theresa for reading and as always, I appreciate your comprehension of my writings. I know we come from very similar dark past and that we both strive to see the Light in our adulthood.
BLESSINGS, Doris
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this is thousands of people
who suffer all forms of abuse
you convered everything
from the abused to those who have to learn manulapation in order to just live
life on lifes terms
wonderful work here
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This really touched me and resonates with me on many levels. An abuse survivor whether from childhood or adulthood struggles to find which place she should be in, which she wants to be in to make things perfect. The confusion that comes with it can be insanity. Love this hun...Susan
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Ah, freedom to choose (be good)
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Yeah, good write. The only part that sounds slightly awkward is the mention of Puppet. Perhaps just Master would lend more impact to the line? Just a suggestion. On a technical note, 'breath' is the noun; 'breathe' is the verb. Well done, though, it's a great write!
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great poem
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Wow!!! This one really hit hit home because I have been there and done that.
This is a very vivid reminder of the secrets lurking behind many closed doors.
I wish you all the best in the contest my friend.
Love ya, Cathy
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Your diversity as a poet is impressive...
you deftly maneuver subject and "voice" with great skill!
This is splendid and perfect for the contest.
good luck!
Blessings! Tammy
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Having been the battered, or to be more precise, beaten, wife, your poem strikes a cord with me. It's so true, being afraid to breathe, afraid to make a wrong move, afraid to do anything that will provoke his wrath, with the end result being a beating. I hid my bruises, broken ribs for years, and finally got sick of it, and divorced him. I guess it's true...sometimes a person has to hit rock bottom before realizing how bad things really are.
I'm now remarried, my hubby & I just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary last month, I am blessed with two wonderful children, my daughter, who will be 13yrs old in Dec, and my son, who will be 10yrs old this month. Or, as he prefers to say, he will be a decade this month...lol!
Wonderful write, you have tackled a tough subject matter and penned it well. For that, I commend you.
Take care and be safe.
~Monica
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A very stark biting look at reality of abuse. To be someone's puppet is never a way to live. A dark and disturbing write you have shared. I can feel the emotions here, a touch of fear and the eagerness to please for fear of anger, or seeking approval. Thank you for sharing and good luck in the contest. Well written.
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This is stark and disturbing but there is a way to freedom and I've been on your page so I know you've found it. I think we're all puppets to something until we choose not to be; I was a puppet to drugs/alcohol but rose like a phoenix! (like you) A courageously honest write.
Peace Georgia
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... ... I'm honestly left just speechless. You had me violently pulled in and captivated by the picture... and then with each line of the poem I wanted more. You are truly and AMAZING poet... there are seriously no words to describe how moved I am by this piece. It says so much with so few words... I just.. wow!... BRAVO!
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"I can be the smiling face you wake to each morning,
Or the battered wife, afraid to breath,
Who hides here bruises beneath this mask.
What is your choosing, O'Puppet Master,
What is your pleasure today?"
Amazing ending. This could be easily made into a sonnet with a few changes and rhyming however I love the end the way it is so I suggest you don't
I love the idea of the Puppet Master because that's how I feel it is. It literally seems like I'm some God damned puppet being controlled. It's creepy.
I loved this write, thank you for the entry!
♥
Bandaid.
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