Thursday, February 16, 2017

Poetry Friday ~ Reflections of Abuse



  

It's Poetry Friday, and I am continuing to embrace the challenge of sharing something poetry each week.  This week's round-up is hosted by Jone at Check It Out.  So be sure and check out all the poetry goodness.

For the first time, I participated in Michelle Barnes' Monthly Challenge at Today's Little Ditty.  To be honest, I was nervous about posting on that Padlet.  Maybe it was because I was leaning out of the comfort zone of my own blog or comparing my own writing to the caliber of writing from the real poets who participate.  I am just the new kid playing on their playground.  But...I did it!

I am unsure of how this poem arrived in its published form.  It started out being about a shy little girl wanting to share a gift with the world, but her shyness led to her inability to do that.  Shyness was the emotion I wanted to personify.  

Somehow, it turned into a poem about a woman suffering from the effects of abuse, and submissiveness is what I personified. Both emotions had downward glances and both were avoiding something, but for extremely different reasons.

I typically do not write about dark topics such as this, and I certainly did not write this from a personal experience.  

But this is the journey of my words this week.


16 comments:

  1. Leigh Anne, this image reverberates from the blows to the young ladies' psyche. The poem is a powerful one speaking from the heart that willed the poem to come to life.

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  2. Powerful words. A beautiful image behind them. I know it's water and ripples, but it has a fingerprint effect, as well. Nice.

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  3. This is an important poem for many readers. Congratulations on your bravery to join Michelle's challenge and to go to a dark place in your poetry. You ARE a real poet! =)

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  4. I often have that same feeling - I'm surrounded by "real" poets, and I'm just a newbie - it can sometimes be a case of that "imposter" feeling. But, we're all poets, with stories to tell and share!

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  5. It's so hard to step out of our comfort zone. I've been writing poetry for more than three decades, and I'm still very nervous about sharing my poems. Your poem is powerful with a lot of emotion. Great imagery!
    By the way, you won a copy of YOU JUST WAIT. Please email me your postal address, and I'll get that out to you as soon as I can. ldkulp@gmail.com
    Have a great weekend!

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  6. Powerful. Poetry moves us to write with empathy. The image enhances the submissive feeling.

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  7. Ditto with Jane@raincitylibrarian. I'm a newbie at taking my writing beyond drafts and certainly at sharing it for the world to see. :) Thanks for sharing your poem-writing pathway and the unique turn it took from shyness to abuse. There is a haunting of entrapment in the words, and the picture seems like a vortex about to pull her under the dark waters. I find my heart holding out a hand for her to grab, Leigh Anne.

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  8. Wow, Leigh Anne, this is startling in its brevity and deep emotion. You are a poet, and don't tell yourself otherwise. Congrats on taking that first step. Michelle's challenges are always wonderful to do. It's so interesting how the act of writing turns into something we didn't think was going to be. It's nice that you allowed it.

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  9. It's amazing what happens when we let our words take us where they want to go. Even if it's a place we usually don't go. Congrats on jumping in and joining the challenge. You inspire me to write more poetry (I'm also a newbie, dabbling in these waters).

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  10. The important thing is to follow where the words lead you...and enjoy the surprises!

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  11. Oh my...you really allowed yourself to "go there" as a writer. Bravo!

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  12. Everyone feels like a newbie every time they start a new project. I'm glad you're sharing. I like your poem, in an uncomfortable way, like there is something I should be doing, but I'm not sure what. Don't we always want to fix things, when just observing and honoring might be the better answer? I used to help battered women get restraining orders. Such sad work.

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  13. Wow! You have really captured a character here. I wonder where she came from!

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  14. Leigh Anne! I'm sorry it took me so long to find my way here, but I'm thrilled you posted this poem so it can get the extra attention it deserves! I enjoyed reading about the writing journey behind the words, and I love how you "framed" your poem on the strong, yet submissive water. Well done! I hope this is only the first of many TLD challenges. :)

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  15. This is beautiful and so evocative.

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