Saturday 2 March 2013

a letter of apology to my SISters




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.

74 comments:

  1. wow, that was intense, Grace!

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    1. I hope the message is clear Dezzy ~ Thanks ~

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  2. dang...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

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    1. It does start with raising our children Brian ~ As someone said, because he respects his mother, he values his wife and daughters ~ Thank you ~

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  3. Your scream on behalf of all abused women is extremely potent. I hear it loud and clear on the other side of the planet.

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  4. Definitely intense... is that the purpose of the scattered caps?

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    1. Yes, I also wanted to play with the sizes of the fonts (like screaming large towards the end) but the formatting is a challenge ~

      Thanks Laurie ~

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  5. 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

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    1. Thank you Fred ~ It was a challenge to write them in 12 lines or less ~

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  6. Wow - 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.

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    1. I can't understand it too Tony ~ Thanks for your support ~

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  7. ugh that is tough.. good to stand up for our sisters.. a tight write grace

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  8. This was a really difficult read but I'm glad that I read it, absolutely awesome Heaven, powerful stuff.

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    1. I think its important for men to realize this issue Matthew ~ Thank you for your support ~

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  9. Heart rending scream for justice and for women all over the world. Very intense, Grace - K

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  10. Your 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.

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    1. All our words can be powerful ~ Thank you for your visit and support ~

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  11. Very powerful, Grace!
    Violence should never be silenced

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  12. Strong words, we should never be silent about violence towards women, great scream out for all.

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    1. I agree ~ Thanks for screaming along with me ~

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  13. Your scream is heard! This is intense and masterfully presented. Atrocity can never be written as pretty poetry.

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    1. I am learning Susie ~ Thanks for the wonderful challenge ~

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  14. Intense write with a powerful message Grace.
    Your scream is well heard.

    Anna :o]

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  15. Sharper than thorns - powerful, intense, excellent

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  16. Whoa, 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.

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  17. Definitely something to scream about. I join you. THis is a power-filled write, Grace. Thank you.

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  18. This piece of poetry should be read out load, screamed from the rooftops. Yes this is darn important stuff,

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  19. Grace--these are AMAZING. Please check this out--she could use these so well. http://susandanielspoetry.com/2013/03/02/5694/

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  20. I agree that this is so powerful. I'd love to see it on public display. It deserves to be.

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  21. Lot's of intense emotion. I liked it a lot.

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  22. Intense 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.

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  23. Veru 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!

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  24. I 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.

    Kudos.

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  25. 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.

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  26. Amazing. Grace...truly amazing. Everyone needs to read this. ♥

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  27. Intense reflecting a sad state of affairs yet, we choose to remain ignorant.

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  28. Such a powerful write, Grace. I love your dermination to raise your son to be aware and respectful of women. Awesome.

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  29. ...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...

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  30. Grace, 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!

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  31. No words for this today. Just tears.

    As always, thank you. But today, thank you for having a voice for others. You rock.

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  32. A powerful voice and strong message Grace. Great work.

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  33. Both the scream and the gentle pledge are piercing arrows, honest and well pointed . . .

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  34. Maybe none of us these days has enough holy anger and pious grief in us!

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  35. Very cutting and evocative pieces.

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  36. Yes, quite a timely reminder to the world, and next Friday is Woman's Day.

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  37. Your 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.

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  38. Felt poem...we are more aware now but I think there's a very long way to go as far as this is concerned.

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  39. A 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.

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  40. Your 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.

    I 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".

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  41. Clear yet thought-provoking message

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  42. Great poems, Grace. Your cinquain inspired me to write one also.

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  43. squee! cinquain!
    and 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.

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  44. Your poems are intense and full of emotion. I join your sentiments about boys becoming good fathers and sons; and sisters using their words wisely.

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  45. This is as strong as the topic deserves. Screaming is so appropriate and your poem tells the truth.

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  46. Really strong voice here, Grace.

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  47. I echo all the sentiments above.

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  48. Yep, everyone should raise their sons to respect women.

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  49. Wonderful messages here.

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  50. Such 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 ..

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  51. A powerful voice for an absolutely worthy cause,,I have heard you very clearly,,,,and I know what needs to be done too,,,,

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  52. I'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.

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  53. Very nice. I really like the hopeful nature of the second.

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  54. This piece packs an almighty punch to the gut! Well done! Brilliant. This will be a fantastic addition to the project!

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  55. Wow, 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.

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  56. absolutely superb! you've conveyed your message exquisitely...

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  57. such passion you've challenged us with

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  58. women... raising sons to be better men

    I 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.

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~