Poem Notes (for Whetsone Poetry, Richard Lynn’s Collaborative Cafe, & Poets Against Atrocities):
I am mostly ignorant of rape. What happens, that someone becomes a rapist? How many terrors does victim endure from a single heinous act? How much of life’s beauty, are no longer available to the victim? Why is it, that it is the victim who often feels compelled to ask for forgiveness? Sometimes, I will think about my daughter and the child she was ‘before’, and questions like these will come. And always, I find myself short of any real answers.
The recent rape in India; of a young woman at the hands of six perpetrators on a public bus, led to a discussion between Kushal and myself. As poets, we decided to, as best we could, give voice to the victim. – Robert
Once A Victim
©2013 Kushal Poddar
©2013 Robert Burnham
[1]
My face is no more
My eyes no longer see Mother Sky
I carry sandpaper senses – everywhere
With everyone –
I am now a lie
Truth has been taken from me
Even with healed pain
I am forever vanquished
I am victim
Of the purest of crimes
Forgive me
[2]
I see. I do not.
A face from any day, everyday. Nothing.
His hand, a working hand. Nothing.
He curses, spits on me, and I say Nothing.
I say, do not hurt me. Nothing.
Nothing. His limb.
Nothing. My door.
Nothing. My heart.
Nothing. My ache.
I see.
A tree sends a quiver down the spine of sky.
The birds fly, infest the blue
Between the wounds.
I see.
His fear makes him stumble with his zip.
Can you put evil back to its cage?
I do not.
[3]
His mother told him –
Taking others’ belongings
Without consent
Is sin.
He touches a girl.
Why will not she let him?
He does not understand.
Why does not she stir?
Wake up. He whispers.
Curses. Says – whore.
Ho, ho, ho
Shouts the world.
Christmas in topic!
Who would have believed!
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Comments: 66
WOW, who knew. I hope dad felt like I do right now, every time I said "I love you, dad".
Randi: I told her to give me grandkids and I'll come to Maine and be their teacher one day. lol. She sounds so much like her mother. Happy thought she gave me: Lisa waiting in heaven to hang out together.
To hear your estranged child profess her love for you as a father is the best balm your soul could possibly have received, in my view. I assure you your father felt as you feel whenever he heard you or your sibling say "I love you, Dad." In fact, I believe the the whole reason God gave us free will, allowed us the power to choose despite the evidence of how often we choose wrongly, how often we bring suffering down on ourselves and others with bad choices, is to make possible that we will freely choose to love Him as our father.
That choice to love Him, the choice our own children can make as to whether to love us or not, is what makes that love powerful and impactful. If our love, if their love, was mandated it would be meaningless in the end.
This is the best news I have ever heard from you. I am so glad that your daughter has opened her heart to you. May the two of you know a growing, loving familial relationship for the rest of your lives.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, though nothing I could say could make that come true as those four little words from your daughter did.
That phone call and her words were better for me than all 13 of my prescriptions.
:+)
(thank you sir)
Poets (all poets), the new superhero. Naw, can't see that.
Seriously, even as we were posting this another ugly scenario (Ohio) went public. People need to stoip being so cruel.
The unbalanced kukoos called copycats seem to always appear for their 15 minutes of gore
You'll need at least one violation for speeding in excess of 100mph, AND
You must be color blind so all traffic lights look 'green'.
Too bad the three of us couldn't get together for a writer's weekend, maybe in the Keys (in the shadow of Hemingway)? I understand it would be a long swim for 'India Boy'.
oh, I thought about getting an armor plated semi with teflar tires, bullet proof windows and a titaninum road grader scoop on the front, the trailer completely furnished
seems like a sufficient vehicle, at least we won't have to worry about any sleeping cows in the road...
and I think everything will get out of our way and we may go where we please and publish where we may
I can only say, thank the lord that I never had to endure this awful crime.
Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!
Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists.
(not to mention, still living with my daughter's rape - it doesn't go away)
Thanks for stopping by Ann, always like seeing you on my posts.
God Bless you and your daughter,,, Long lasting Love for you two,,,
We often only think of rape being only against women..but I can assure you it also happens to males..
My grandchild was molested by her Step father . this man did go to prison but stayed less than two years..
I'm not sure the death penalty shouldn't be handed down to the guilty party who committed such crimes. Better yet turn them over to the victims family and allow them to dish out their revenge.
But, personal revenge - that's a Pandora's box and it's not always justice - vegeance is best left to the Lord (and to the legal system). Would I like to shoot that certain individual, yes; but ...
Thanks Betty & God Bless You for openly sharing as you did.
The only thing that has the power to do that is...forgiveness.
Forgiveness does not mean forgetting what was done, it does not mean condoning what was done, it does not mean freeing the guilty from the incarceration their actions have brought on them (and I agree that the sentences for rape, particularly rape of children, are ridiculously short), it does not mean that you befriend the perpetrator.
Forgiveness is as much about you and your healing as it is about the person who harmed you. It's power is vastly under appreciated.
Thanks for speaking out on this subject.
they have lost their safety and haven't a home
nothing ever will be safe again
because the attacker now within...
Too many do not understand the impact, always there, even when you can move on, God only can heal what we allow him to heal and it is so hard to let go of the self blame...
Thank you Brother..Hugs and Blessings to you.
Thank you for sharing with Watching The Wind Blow By
Thank you friend, and for the Feature (below)