For not RAisinG my voicE when you Are huRT
For turning MutE to demeANing jOkEs & words
I was qUiet when they called you baby, WwhorRE, bbiTCh
As if you are just breasts, legs, LiPs, ASs, a trinket, an afterthought.
I did not RAge hard enouGh, scrEaM lOUD enough
when you were abUSEd and KilLED on the side of the road.
My solemn PLea is to raisE my son to be A better man,
a son who HoNors & reSpects his motHER
will be a better fatHER to his daugHtERs, a loving man to his wife.
For if a son can KiLL his motHER in a HEARbeaT
he can Kill kILL anyone like a deMENted animal
STOP the vioLENce against woMEN.
~0~0~0~
your words
can knife a girl
sharper than thorns, breaking
mother's heart, father's pride, brother's
baby
sister --
use them like seeds --
gentle as snowflakes, white
candles for peace, not for mourning,
my son
Posted for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Today We Scream - Thanks to Susie Clevenger ~
March has been set aside by Woman Scream International Poetry Festival as the month to raise awareness through poetry about violence against women.
And D'verse Poets Pub - Short Verses - I have used a cinquain (syllabic 2-4-6-8-2) - Thanks Fred for the prompt.
wow, that was intense, Grace!
ReplyDeleteI hope the message is clear Dezzy ~ Thanks ~
Deletedang...intense....harsh reality as well...we turn a deaf ear far too often when someone says something out of sync, off color...perhaps unsure what to say or unwilling to start something...and it does start at home with our own children and raising them the way they should ...and in that there is hope
ReplyDeleteIt does start with raising our children Brian ~ As someone said, because he respects his mother, he values his wife and daughters ~ Thank you ~
DeleteYour scream on behalf of all abused women is extremely potent. I hear it loud and clear on the other side of the planet.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kerry ~
DeleteDefinitely intense... is that the purpose of the scattered caps?
ReplyDeleteYes, I also wanted to play with the sizes of the fonts (like screaming large towards the end) but the formatting is a challenge ~
DeleteThanks Laurie ~
strong piece Grace, really felt the emotion in the words, great use of sound in pronunciation to emphasize the emotion. Truly, I would hope that most want their children to grow up in such a way, unfortunately, I bet there are many parents out there that just don't think about it, which is a shame in itself. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you Fred ~ It was a challenge to write them in 12 lines or less ~
DeleteWow - really heavy, intense emotion in thenfirst of these, Grace. I don't understand how anyone can abuse anyone else be it physically, emotionally or whatever - but it happens all the time and definitely needs to stop.
ReplyDeleteI can't understand it too Tony ~ Thanks for your support ~
Deleteugh that is tough.. good to stand up for our sisters.. a tight write grace
ReplyDeleteThank you Claudia ~
DeleteThis was a really difficult read but I'm glad that I read it, absolutely awesome Heaven, powerful stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think its important for men to realize this issue Matthew ~ Thank you for your support ~
DeleteHeart rending scream for justice and for women all over the world. Very intense, Grace - K
ReplyDeleteThank you K ~
DeleteYour words hold so much power. I'm not even sure what to say to comment because you've said it all so well. It is heartbreaking to read but important as someone else mentioned. You told it like it is and you told it well.
ReplyDeleteAll our words can be powerful ~ Thank you for your visit and support ~
DeleteVery powerful, Grace!
ReplyDeleteViolence should never be silenced
I agree Rene ~ Thanks ~
DeleteStrong words, we should never be silent about violence towards women, great scream out for all.
ReplyDeleteI agree ~ Thanks for screaming along with me ~
DeleteYour scream is heard! This is intense and masterfully presented. Atrocity can never be written as pretty poetry.
ReplyDeleteI am learning Susie ~ Thanks for the wonderful challenge ~
DeleteIntense write with a powerful message Grace.
ReplyDeleteYour scream is well heard.
Anna :o]
Sharper than thorns - powerful, intense, excellent
ReplyDeleteWhoa, okay. Intense, very good. Why should we even have to scream at all? March for awareness about abuse through poetry, sounds good. Thanks for reminding us of this horrific existence and let's hope we do reach out.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely something to scream about. I join you. THis is a power-filled write, Grace. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis piece of poetry should be read out load, screamed from the rooftops. Yes this is darn important stuff,
ReplyDeleteGrace--these are AMAZING. Please check this out--she could use these so well. http://susandanielspoetry.com/2013/03/02/5694/
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link Susan ~
DeleteI agree that this is so powerful. I'd love to see it on public display. It deserves to be.
ReplyDeleteLot's of intense emotion. I liked it a lot.
ReplyDeleteIntense is sure the word, as you bring an important issue into the light, that many try and keep out of sight. Hope your weekend is grand, with no more snow in your land.
ReplyDeleteVeru purposeful, honest, heart rending, and fire kindling. Excellente presentation though it breaks my heart strings. This has always had my full support! A great voice you are!
ReplyDeleteStrong words, good message.
ReplyDeleteI like what you did with letters, alternating them with CAPS. It gives a feeling that is hard to say those words as it is hard to stand up against the violence and abuse on women.
ReplyDeleteKudos.
What better deterents to violence against women than the mothers who instill respect and compassion in their sons and daughters. Strong write, Grace, and well done.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. Grace...truly amazing. Everyone needs to read this. ♥
ReplyDeleteIntense reflecting a sad state of affairs yet, we choose to remain ignorant.
ReplyDeleteSuch a powerful write, Grace. I love your dermination to raise your son to be aware and respectful of women. Awesome.
ReplyDelete...Grace...your poem brings back memories of recent tragedy in india... about a rape victim, brutally tortured, killed & left naked in public...and no one bothered to lend help... i have high respect for women and i salute what you did to voice out your pleas... well done... i will have this shared with mum & 2 younger sisters... smiles...
ReplyDeleteGrace, we all need to raise our voices. But (if you read my poem) will raising our voices help?? I do wonder sometime. We do need to teach our young men. as you are teaching your son, how to be a loving person. It does all start in the home, I think...and your son is fortunate to have your example. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteNo words for this today. Just tears.
ReplyDeleteAs always, thank you. But today, thank you for having a voice for others. You rock.
A powerful voice and strong message Grace. Great work.
ReplyDeleteBoth the scream and the gentle pledge are piercing arrows, honest and well pointed . . .
ReplyDeleteMaybe none of us these days has enough holy anger and pious grief in us!
ReplyDeleteVery cutting and evocative pieces.
ReplyDeleteYes, quite a timely reminder to the world, and next Friday is Woman's Day.
ReplyDeleteYour passion shows in this writing, Grace. It's crazy that we live in a world where we need reminders like this. We can't tolerate this crap. My family lost a dear friend, murdered by her husband who then committed suicide. Their 20-year old daughter now lives with us as she tries to put her life together. Senseless.
ReplyDeleteFelt poem...we are more aware now but I think there's a very long way to go as far as this is concerned.
ReplyDeleteA hard thing to raise a son. As you write. (Or daughter. ) And the differences in what is happening in different parts of the world - I think if people raise their voices, they need to look globally - what goes on with women in the third world is beyond imagining. Of course, we are not great here (understatement), but it is hardly comparable. Thanks for your poems. k.
ReplyDeleteYour first four lines are what are described as "eve-teasing" in India. It is such a commonplace occurrence here that no girl or woman can truthfully say she has never been a victim of sexual harassment in the form of cat-calls, sexist jokes or unwanted physical advances.
ReplyDeleteI applaud your call to raise our sons better. It is high-time the onus was put on men to act decently than on women to behave "correctly".
Clear yet thought-provoking message
ReplyDeleteGreat poems, Grace. Your cinquain inspired me to write one also.
ReplyDeletesquee! cinquain!
ReplyDeleteand yes, we must raise our children well and strong. and not a damn thing is going to change about any of this until all of us start speaking out and intervening when witnessing comments like you described, and when witnessing violence. thank you for your strong words, Grace.
ReplyDeleteYour poems are intense and full of emotion. I join your sentiments about boys becoming good fathers and sons; and sisters using their words wisely.
This is as strong as the topic deserves. Screaming is so appropriate and your poem tells the truth.
ReplyDeleteReally strong voice here, Grace.
ReplyDeleteI echo all the sentiments above.
ReplyDeleteYep, everyone should raise their sons to respect women.
ReplyDeleteWonderful messages here.
ReplyDeleteSuch an intense piece which is the urgent need of an hour..wonderful portrayal of emotions here ..powerful message so as to raise the sons with moral values ..
ReplyDeleteA powerful voice for an absolutely worthy cause,,I have heard you very clearly,,,,and I know what needs to be done too,,,,
ReplyDeletepowerful.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that I can add much more to the conversation that hasn't already been said. The first poem is uncomfortable and powerful. I like the use of capitals within the words. I get the sense that, by the capitalizing of MEN at the end you are also pointing out that violence against women also hurts men. I also like the double "w" in "whore" and "b" in "bitch" in the third line of the first poem. It feels like a stutter. The second poem is lovely.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I really like the hopeful nature of the second.
ReplyDeleteThis piece packs an almighty punch to the gut! Well done! Brilliant. This will be a fantastic addition to the project!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a powerful and touching message your poem transmitted... I especially liked the last stanza, with its many images of seeds, snowflakes, and a white candle on top of all... Delicateness against all the violence.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely superb! you've conveyed your message exquisitely...
ReplyDeletesuch passion you've challenged us with
ReplyDeletewomen... raising sons to be better men
ReplyDeleteI truly think that will be the most effective way - but it makes me sick to think how much time that will take. It's like dropping a pebble into the ocean.
your words
can knife a girl
That whole stanza is wonderful.