Nobody expects it.
The first time an open palm stings your skin,
the hand you held just hours ago with a smile;
becoming a weapon that shifts and changes,
an enemy within an ally,
a sleeper cell of rage.
You see us, them, the others;
define us by cheap melodrama and nasty secrets
you refuse to acknowledge as real-
we are actors in a play you saw on t.v,
where the good and bad were hard edged and easy
to identify within the opening frames...
not your neighbour who smiles and chats on her doorstep
hiding regrets and torment and wishes
beneath the sleeves of her worn out robe-
not the man you chat to everyday at work on the phone,
who is so charming and funny and laughs about his wife and kids;
no.
Not them.
Judgement; the key to it all,
his wounded self wounding her just to feel control,
when the bills fall, or the drink calls or the bloke at work gave him lip-
and the desperate hope of a battered heart, clinging to an idea-
that tomorrow will be different, that love was enough after all,
you laugh at such naivety; are frustrated by the endless ifs-
yet nobody expects it.
For love to turn into a battle;
a war between knowledge and faith;
please hear the truth behind her eyes,
understand the hope behind her lies,
become an open heart for those in need of shelter
no remonstrations of how he will never change...
encourage that fragile spirit,
to change herself.
Be a sister, to your kin,
don't enslave her twice over.
Author notes
Yvette, you inspired me to change. I thank you from the bottom of my foolish heart. X
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Awesome
Wise and inspiring words
Again, you amaze.
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not your neighbour who smiles and chats on her doorstep
hiding regrets and torment and wishes
beneath the sleeves of her worn out robe-
Funny how people seem to remember the times when you don't think you're at your best. But you are.
I don't know what to say Em.
I am glad you have Yvette in your life, and can even take credit for introducing you to her, so long ago.
I wish you both the best.
Thank you for including me in your comment on your poem to Yvette.
Love,
jin
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Dear Em such a very powerful and moving piece.As one who loved his wife from the moment we met until the day she passed away . It is hard for me to comprehend how one who professes to love can deal out such pain Sadly it is all to prevalent
Sad, but none the less an excellent write
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wow, i would have to quote the entire poem for the parts i liked. this is just awesome. seems like ur writing is changing a bit, like growing. hmmm, u keepin some secrets from me arent u! lol awesome write
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Em,
on my honour I am crying, for all the reasons that were wrong in the seasons we and other sisters lived through, for those that still do.
I am humbled that you honour me by writing this and for every word you have used to full effect, it was there from the beginning of the poem, how well you portray the shock, of the hand that you just walked hand in hand with then raised to slap face, for me the entire piece is powerful, but "sleeper cell of rage" oh my, yes that is excactly it, never knowing when that rage will be activated or by what, you show the mindlessness and the fact that rarely do others guess, my ex was mr charisma in company,
Em, I am so proud of you, I know how hard it is to finally walk away after trying everything and you have blossomed, blossomed from a fragile flower into a woman in full bloom, full of understanding, healing, creativity and positivity.
Your poem is eloquent, open, it reaches and teaches, it shows the dark without adding to it.
I know you are reticent about entering a contest and why, but this is golden, please reconsider entering it , it will speak volumes.
I am sending you points for gold anyway, you are a trophy inspiration .
Just before I saw the DV contest the news on the radio reported that a local man had been jailed for killing his girlfriend, who he had systematically abused. I felt so awful Em, she only lived and died a short distance away from me and I never knew, I was choked. I saw the DV contest and wondered whether to enter a prewrite, like yourself and all survivors, I wasn't sure about opening myself up to share the shades of pain , it isn't easy experiencing it , recovering or writing about it but at least by writing poetry we can do something peacefully and positively to inform and I salute you for I know how much it has taken for you to write this.
Forgive the rambling Em
You are Stellar!
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