every night, i dab
red oily paint on
pale sunken cheeks
teeth clenched, I draw
bright lines
around
dull bruised lips
glittering blue
eye make-up
completes my
photograph
hiding joy-famished
thin frame
behind tight
black dress, and
scruffy shoes
my hands rough from
tilling the hard farm soil,
now grips the dirty
blanket in nightly terror
as men
obsessed with
themselves,
plunders my
soft body
i lost my voice
a long ago
behind these dark
rooms reeking of sex,
money, sweat and piss.
i don't believe in
God nor
fairy tales
they are for kids.
Author's Note: This post is for Poetry Jam, hosted by Brian Miller.
"Our words have power. This week for the Jam, I want you to write a compassion poem, a call to action poem, an awareness poem...a poem that touches on an issue that pulls your heart strings. "
While I enjoy writing about love and intimacy, I abhor children and women trafficking. I was watching a documentary about this last night, and it is a cruel reality. If you are interested, you may want to read more about this cause here.
Shared with One Single Impression. The prompt #162 is obsession.
Poets United: Poet Pantry # 63.
picture credit: http://silent-musings.tumblr.com/
You certainly don't write fairy tales for children...
ReplyDeletePOWERFUL!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not fairy tales... a powerful voice shared well.
ReplyDeleteGosh your good!
ReplyDeletewe share a similar burden...visceral imagery heaven...which is the reality we should see it in...very nicely done...
ReplyDeletetruly sad
ReplyDelete"joy-famished".... what a wonderfully turned phrase. So many of us feel that way, so many of us take the joy we have for granted and miss it completely, starving at the front of the buffet line.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the title the them of the poem jumped in to my mind and you handled it with such power. Well written...
Sex has always been and always will be used for making easy money. The trouble is, men have always seen women as such sexual objects to use and abuse as they see fit and, as long as there's money to be made from it all, it will always exist and for the women stolen or sold into this life, it is all so savage and so sad.
ReplyDeleteA very hard hitting poem about the 'joy famished' life of a prostitute.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! What a powerful ending... and of course the words before that are equally terrific. Wow!
ReplyDeleteStrong words on a cruel subject done well.
ReplyDeleteThis was a jaw dropper for me! Great poem for a visious crime.
ReplyDeleteYeah it's digusting and disturbing, powerful write.
ReplyDeleteStrong, brave poem about a subject that deserves exposure.
ReplyDeleteVery strong.
ReplyDeletePainful and strong. Thanks for writing this.
ReplyDeleteWell done. You paint a vivid and disturbing picture.
ReplyDeleteHeaven, this poem is so authentic,
ReplyDeleteexcellent word and visual wise.
People tended to take the easy way out.Some things better served by not talking about them. People shy away from them. You took the brave front!
ReplyDeletepower-packed writing.. a thought stimulator.
ReplyDeleteGosh! This was powerful!
ReplyDeletegreat job
Powerful and disturbing. But still, you kept the reader lured in until the end. I didn't want to close the window, even though it had my skin crawling a bit.
ReplyDeleteVery well done.
Thanks for the read! Really provokes some thought.
Powerful words about a topic most people don't want to know about, sadly.
ReplyDeleteAn ending with a punch. I like that. Thanks for the visit!
ReplyDeletegreat takes on the prompts, Heaven! a very sad situation that occurs all over the world. thank you for highlighting it. ♥ dani
ReplyDeleteI like a poem that takes its courage in both hands, as this one does. A very fine achievement!
ReplyDeletePowerful and shocking. Realy well done.
ReplyDeleteQuite a punch here! I like the personal perspective. So many of our message poems are written from the outside. Going inside you really hit home.
ReplyDeleteVery strong message....so much pain seen from the soul of the oppressed.
ReplyDeleteI felt such sorrow for the character, and all the other people suffering through this....
~alaurilee
Tragic poem, but fantastically written! So powerful and deep!
ReplyDeleteChildren deserve a childhood...
ReplyDeleteI cringed through the entire poem. You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteit is good to remember the world and it's dark side...
ReplyDeletepowerful write...nicely done!
ReplyDelete