"What touch will your young remember?"
to outlast the blight
of the stretching of mind
toward the noose in our sight,
it is that which will plead…
the emotions to bleed
for the reason to season the
young of this treasonous need,
forced and so subjected
to a will twisted, dejected,
where the feelings have wrecked
the bliss of innocence detected,
how much vile…
is then cause for denial
to course through your veins
and linger life long while…
stored and packed to the neck,
will it not burst and then wreck
the lives of all touched to
destroy the very dirt by its trek?
Such it is to face guile,
though it may come with a smile,
the cost to your life… long
the road leads to puke up such bile,
and there is no calm…
light breeze under palm
trees swaying to welcome you…
no, no hands on masseur with balm
to massage out the kinks left,
the rotting feeling by cleft
or the guilt of knowing it
happened to leave you bereft…
where in your heart is a hole,
a space dark and black as coal,
to what drugs never fill or
the desire to consume you up whole,
to chase the demon who did it…
to urge of killing that won’t quit,
it is that welling up from within
that you’ll face… tastes like shit,
it will overwhelm you of course…
leaving little to simple discourse,
nothing is simple- all too draining
by residuals left by the source,
screaming out a life long…
to think one doesn’t belong
among the breathing and living,
forgiveness will liberate… to make one strong.
Comments
Powerfully emotive write Russ. It is not just the horrendous act itself but the life long emotional torture and damnation that these children are left with, to struggle with for the rest of their lives. It is the aftermath of inner conflict. This is so well written Russ, insightful and compassionate, burns with anger and yet soothes with forgiveness. Very emotive and I can feel in your words how working with these innocents, affected you. Great write, a voice to be heard.
The events I’ve witnessed have dramatically impacted my own life… and I in turn, intend to speak out for them and me of their conditional lives and, in truth, the aftermath to the things done to them. I thank you Lisa… as usual.
– Russell Holder
A powerful, thought provoking, deeply saddening, yet very insightful outpour, Russ. This world can be such a cruel, cold place as it is and it simply breaks my heart that too many children have to endure the added suffering,lifelong pain and anguish that goes with being victims in such horrendously vile acts of hatred. Good on you for using your voice in speaking out for those who cannot…we should all do the same!
It brings great comfort to hear all you related: about the piece, your feelings and your support to those who can’t or won’t speak out about this issue. It was getting so bad, the reports on rape and incest, in the foothills of the Sierras in California, that the officials closed the offices… that was back in the late eighties. It was also during the time that I worked for the Women’s Center there. One can only imagine the horrors of facing the fact the officials removed the possibility to turn in a report and see the door slapped in your face from a lack of concern or need to address the problem. I think it was more to an apparent inability to deal with the overwhelming amount of reports that were already on the books. Thanks again Anni.
– Russell Holder
wow .. what a tough subject to tackle and yet you do it with grace and wisdom… the poem is a real eye opener into the darker side of life that many encounter
well done russell
I don’t think I’ve ever been afraid to tackle any subject, either to hasten awareness to a topic or to bring enlightenment via humor, contrast from bias and/or negate the stereo-typical hogwash that is being presented by the media for our consumption. I do thank you Shoaib, especially for your tenderness of heart and relating your feelings on this piece. If more people were to do this, maybe… just maybe, the spotlight would glare so much on the disdain of it happening any more- due to shame and guilt and conviction.
– Russell Holder