by JustMe ~I'm happy to be~
Member since:
August 16, 2008

~A Radiant Illusion~

January 19, 2013 12:31 PM UTC (Updated: January 19, 2013 12:32 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 17 people recommend this | comments: 53

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her silken, quivering vortex mind

invents stories to recreate herself

for those who hunt her like prey


They do not have the ability

to lift their steel knives to her

pale and golden throat

but their words tear

trails of scars across her flesh


So she slips into a new skin

musters a new voice

paints a new face

deflecting the monsters' barbs

with a radiant illusion

 

Comments: 53

JOHN BECK Jan 19, 2013, 12:35pm UTC
Your radiance is not illusion, Michelle. Deflect away!
JOHN BECK Jan 19, 2013, 12:36pm UTC
Brilliant poetry.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 19, 2013, 12:39pm UTC
Thank you, John. You will be relieved to know this is NOT autobiographical. Rather, a student and her "battles" inspired this poem.
JOHN BECK Jan 19, 2013, 12:45pm UTC
And I like the way you treated the inspiration.
elizabeth evans Jan 19, 2013, 3:46pm UTC
Sad that your student has to resort to "creating a Teflon skin" (borrowed from Stephen's comment).
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:09am UTC
Thanks, John, and yes, bob. But she's young and needed armor.
Jennifer Lee Jan 19, 2013, 12:52pm UTC
Powerful, I think we all create illusions for others to see, at least to some extent. Also, I've done so in order to protect myself. Sadly, that can backfire and only ward others off. Great poetry, Me!
elizabeth evans Jan 19, 2013, 3:48pm UTC
You are probably right there, Jenn...to some extent, we all create illusions so we are not hurt. But I think this goes deeper. I think it's a lot harder in high schools today to be accepted for who we are.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:10am UTC
I agree, Jenn, and thank you.

bob, it goes way deeper than just being accepted.
Jennifer Lee Jan 20, 2013, 12:14am UTC
Hopefully your student found it uplifting.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:19am UTC
Haven't shared it with her, yet. Not sure it's uplifting....
Jennifer Lee Jan 20, 2013, 1:00am UTC
I think this woman in the poem demonstrates strength, it was to me.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 1:09am UTC
Thanks, Jenn.
A. F. Stewart Jan 19, 2013, 1:26pm UTC
An exquisite piece of poetry.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:10am UTC
Thank you, Anita.
stephen berwaldt Jan 19, 2013, 1:28pm UTC
But we all deal with criticism and derision this way...deflect...delude...don our teflon suit so no one can destroy our tender parts, or see we bleed in our sanctity...

serene she seems
her aloofness screams
"you can't touch me"
inadvertently
a solitary, silent tear
leaves its telling trail
on Teflon skin
suppressing wail
blinks away her hurt
the ache of happiness ne'er convey
dons her Velcro smile
and walks away

This is Ann's day to moderate. I read this on Facebook and have loved it again here.
Ann would feature it, I'm sure, so I do, in her stead.

Thank you for posting your work to Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Now Featured.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:11am UTC
Thank you, Stephen and thank you for the feature.
Ann Marcaida Jan 20, 2013, 11:40am UTC
Steve is right, I would have featured this. And I admire the subject, whomever she may be!
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 2:04pm UTC
Thank you so much, Ann.
Joy Bee Jan 19, 2013, 1:36pm UTC
Awesome poem.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:11am UTC
Thank you Joy Bee for stopping by.
Brian Benson Jan 19, 2013, 1:38pm UTC
Your usual mystical magical mix. I loved this Michelle. It is aptly named...B
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:11am UTC
Thanks, B.
Peter Joseph Swanson Jan 19, 2013, 2:11pm UTC
Fabulous!
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:11am UTC
Thank you so much, Peter!
Len Maxwell Jan 19, 2013, 2:22pm UTC
I like Brian's comment about it being aptly named. Nicely done.

Thanks for sharing with The Triple Name Club.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:12am UTC
Thank you, Len.
Kevin E. Jan 19, 2013, 2:26pm UTC
I wanted to add some profound comment but all of the good comments are already taken, very very well written poem! Wow!
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:12am UTC
Thank you so much, Kevin.
So much in this world consists of illusions wafting in and out of smoke screens - and we hide behind masks to protect us from the predators.

Top notch work, my friend.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:12am UTC
Thank you, dear friend. Can't believe you have a new profile pic! :)
I'm waving the Aussie flag to herald Australia Day on the 26th January.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 11:27am UTC
:)
Chris Brockman Jan 19, 2013, 6:02pm UTC
Oh yeah, there are some female public figures who fit this, and I'm sure many private ones who have top laugh to keep from crying.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:12am UTC
Like the tears of a clown, my friend.
Chris Brockman Jan 20, 2013, 10:37am UTC
Clearly we know that Miracles happen.
Marianne K. Jan 19, 2013, 8:27pm UTC
A radiant illusive person walking in new shoes testing new ways to protect that which remains alive in her soul. Who hasn't at times shown a 'brave' face, radiating confidence to stay alive and soldier on.

I love your picture perfect poem of sorrow and illusion, Michelle!!! And I'm glad it's not autobiographical, but fiercely supportive of a student!

xxxx
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 12:13am UTC
Thank you, dear Marianne. xoxox
Bernard C. Jan 20, 2013, 7:01am UTC
Nice write - a Goddess by any means

Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 7:18am UTC
Thank you, Bernard.
Diane Huizenga Jan 20, 2013, 8:43am UTC
wonderful
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 9:32am UTC
Thanks, D.
Richard Thuss Jan 20, 2013, 9:20am UTC
When I finished, I smiled, and then thought: "You go girl."
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 9:33am UTC
Nothing I enjoy more than hearing how my friends think/feel after reading what I wrote. Thanks, Richard!
Ian Thorpe Jan 20, 2013, 9:55am UTC
Good advice for those feeling fragile and threatened.

Illustration by Frank Frazetta? It's very similar to his style.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 11:35am UTC
Thanks! I thought it looked like a Frazetta...I found it on a Google search.
Ian Thorpe Jan 20, 2013, 12:24pm UTC
I like bing for images. I just typed "fantasy goddess images" in the bing search bar and got these. Which is great because I'm going to need an earth goddess for a video this week.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 2:05pm UTC
Cool! I googled Warrior women.

I'll try Bing next time...
Priya P. Jan 20, 2013, 6:01pm UTC
So easy to relate to this. So many skins I have painted on, so many "Velcro smiles". I feel for your student. So blessed she is to have you in her life. I bet you are more then just a teacher to her. Some teachers are like that you know; they mentally adopt some children, often the forgotten or unpopular ones. I picture you with your life size heart like such a teacher.


Featured with grace in the The Surreal Circus.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 6:48pm UTC
I love each one as if they were family. Thank you for recognizing that, PRIYA, and thank you for the feature.
Priya P. Jan 20, 2013, 6:55pm UTC
Yes, I knew that already. It is what makes so many admire and love you; not just your poetry but the you behind the words.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 20, 2013, 6:58pm UTC
Aaaww .. Thanks, dear PRIYA.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 22, 2013, 1:48pm UTC
The imagery fits perfectly with your words.

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