Have you ever seen someone being bottled?
Have you ever seen the fierceness of one victim attacking another,
no logic in their eyes, no vision in their lives?
Have you ever heard the thudding sound upon skin and bone
and watched glass shatter across another’s head?
Have you been real close and seen the skin split,
and noticed how the blood spurts or trickles down over their eyes
as shards of glass embed in flesh with perhaps the bone exposed?
Have you ever seen an-other move without control and charge the innocent,
enraged by bottled-up and unspent pain,
that they cannot free-up and just let go?
Have you heard the victim’s screams and pleas,
as you stood frozen with the certainty that they may bottle you?
Have you ever stood-by or turned a blind-eye when preservation and shock combine,
when such a happening just appears, and you’re the one who happened …
just happened to be there when you just wanted to disappear?
Have you listened to the wailing anguish of their pain,
as they cried out for help and no-one came?
Have you seen a once smiling face not long before,
now appear as if they just came from war.
The zone of being throttled … with head held down…
broken and shamed from humiliation … a disgrace-filled state?
And when she or he looked up with a solemn air,
with eyes awash, soft lips all split and swollen cheeks…
battered and bruised as trickles of scarlet red dripped,
and asked with those pleading, blood-filled eyes and fractured head;
“Why? Why do I have to hurt so much, yet no tears wash the pain from behind my eyes?”
And in disgrace you’ve stood speechless … with no ready-made quip or reply.
Oh yes! Have you ever been in life, in such a place where being bottled …
attacked and throttled was just a part of everyday struggle … a way of strife…
Where to repel the evil that permeates becomes a hope-less and futile resistance…
Where rogues and scoundrels and less-than-Beings rule their compatriots with fist
and grog, boots and knifes, and busted faces, and broken glass.
Propelled by a volcanic savageness unpredictable and hearts as hard as steel?
Have you ever been in such a place, in a way of life,
where to stand and fight is poor advice … ridiculous,
a place where the bottles fly and to live as such, if that is what it’s called…
is lesser than to die?
© DjA Crowmanic
Have You Ever
Dramatic existence and crippling violence is endemic amongst far too many communities within Aboriginal society. Usually kept out of sight and off the radar of awareness of the ‘mainstream’. In my view, and to some extent, it is the manifestation of a disease of the soul., and often comes under the terms ‘domestic’ or family violence. The ‘spirit’ behind this epidemic is known by many names; cruelty, revenge, misguided pay-back, alcohol abuse, rejection, pain, rape, frustration, anger, racism, drugs, insecurity, poverty and fear, just to name a few. It is the expression of a dis-eased spirit (the “Mamu” or “evil” (bad-fella) that operates in the vacuum that has been created by dispossession, disillusionment and trauma, coupled with the erosion of a secure and sound identity. It spreads in times of intense distress, trauma, and uncertainty. Wanton violence is systemic disease that spreads like a cancerous and corrosive virus, and appears to thrive where there is little love for one’s ‘self’ and hence little to no regard nor respect for others.
This epidemic is not unique to Aboriginals in Australia. It is just more amplified, more readily identified, because of the disproportionate high numbers of victims from within a small percentage of the Australian population.
helene ruiz, 4 months ago
wow….scary, powerful and a piece of reality most dont like to think about….gave me the chills
Brita Lee Mikl..., 4 months ago
Powerful words, graphic imagery, too real for comfort
Crowmanic in reply to helene ruiz’s comment, 4 months ago
Unfortunately, but true, I know far too many, and have seen up close … no wonder I feel overwhelmed these days … could someone find the switch to turn off the carousel? :-(
Crowmanic in reply to Brita Lee Miklouho-Maklai’s comment, 4 months ago
Never comfort … regretfully
helene ruiz, 4 months ago
is there really a switch? if u find it let me know
JenniferB, 2 months ago
very real, very true… but no, I don’t believe that it’s better to die, everything happens for a reason and because it needs you to be a part of the scenario at the time… And yes, violence does stem from a lack of identity and self esteem, it also stems from a lack of hope, so when you look at it like that, it’s more something to be compassionate towards than bitter… It’s easier to pack your bags and move on than it is to stick it out and support those who need your help, especially if there’s children involved… A powerful piece of writing Crowmanic.
Crowmanic in reply to JenniferB’s comment, 2 months ago
Dear JB, its never easier to have to leave family, culture, life style, opportunity … never easier …
JenniferB, 2 months ago
Sorry I came across as sounding pissy Crowmanic, I didn’t intend to, I was just imitating Bush and making a preemptive strike… ;-)
Crowmanic in reply to JenniferB’s comment, 2 months ago
Again I cannot accept your “sorry”, as there is nothing truly to be sorry for. Perhaps just seeing through the words written and feeling the intent would help minimise misunderstanding?
JenniferB, 2 months ago
okay.