Free to be Free – Dverse
41December 18, 2015 by petrujviljoen
What follows isn’t entirely autobiographical. I recently met a little girl at a place where I did voluntary work, who would scratch at her cheeks to the point of the skin being broken when she cried, which was often. I used the title of the post by Dverse and it’s meant ironically.
Thudding throbbing silence
straining – head
breaking pressure inner heaving
crippling,
tethered child-bitch –
wrenched throat
choking mute
tears grazed cheeks’
skin – dress
lifted – inevitably
dragged cigarette coal
burning
curtains drawn door
softly so softly
closes.
Still.
………………………………………
Please follow the Dverse link supplied at the top of the text and press the Mr Linky button to read other people’s work – I don’t know how to get it onto this page.
petrujviljoen 
Happy Holidays..:)
Thanks guys! to U2.
🙂
Wonder how Bono & his band will spend Christmas day? Having turkey at mom’s do you think? 🙂
Smiles.. Perhaps with Turkey’s.. Prime Minister..;)
ha-ha-ha!!
A common story
so empty so sad..
the death of a child’s
heart likely broken..
abused or neglected
altogether..
where only
pain
can
break
the well
of empty
that never
feels the
healing
waters
of
Unconditional
Love.. the ultimate
healing force of human
being still now.. as freer..
and sadly if not grown
from early
possibly
never grown
at all.. saddest
part of life at
all
a child
unloved….cold…
numb…death…iN Life…
death in life …
I love the mesmerising progression of this piece. Nicely done.
Thank you for reading. It’s appreciated.
No, not a hopeful ending at all. Too often too true – which is why it still happens all the time to too many children. Excellent write. I can see why you could no longer continue to write this. It was hard to continue to read. Free writing isn’t often free or freeing, but it is more – opening? maybe?
The sensible and insightful responses to this piece helps to be courageous about continuing talking about it. Because it’s so mind blowing, people shy away from the topic. Many times have I been told to change the subject because it is so uncomfortable. Even close friends and family.
And it is uncomfortable because it is the ultimate betrayal of trust.
I never can write about this subject which is in my past. Thank you for writing about it.
It’s very very difficult and I don’t blame you. Do what you can to get through your day. Be well! Hold yourself.
That reminds me of something I heard once from Iyanla Vanzant. So positive, thank you.
I’ll look her up. Be kind to yourself on all the levels – physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, all of it.
You may also be interested in the following site: http://nanmykel.com/ She is also a survivor and her blog has many interesting and helpful articles and essays about the topic. Should’ve mentioned her before.
Also: I stopped where I did because I was going to go mad. I meant a longer piece similar to that of Howl but just couldn’t do it. So much to say and not the energy to do it.
You did good. It was just the right amount of words.
Thanks.
This gives me a chill of a descending darkness ~
Enjoyed this one ~
Hypnotic fever might be a better description. Thanks for visiting.
I really appreciate the way you have given this child a voice! Excellent!
Thanks. Wish there was a way I could tell her. It might’ve helped.
Maybe she hears and knows?
Maybe, but I don’t think so. There’s no way to find her. ‘The System’ swallowed her up.
I see! That must be very difficult!
I think if you meet a child like that, there are all kind of horrors you might imagine… I wonder how people can do so to a little girl… I hope she will be surrounded by good people some day who might change her path.
I hope so too, you can be sure. Miracles do happen.
This was difficult to imagine even though I know this sort of child abuse happens. No, I didn’t feel that it ended hopefully at all. Curtains drawn and door closing quietly…no, it feels sick, sneaky and sinister.
That it makes it difficult to imagine is the reason why it should be told more often. It’s real. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Yes, I understand completely. It needs to be spoken about and brought out into the light…with no shame. You’re welcome.
… with no shame … is the operative phrase. Thank you very much.
Kinda had to think twice about “liking” because of the intense pain that underlies this beautifully penned poem. So many children experience this desperation.
Too many Victoria. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
I am new to your page & your work. This piece touched an emotional nerve for sure, conjuring up visions of pedophile priests & pre-adolescent raping of little girls. I think it closes on a hopeful note; very abstract formatting, but interesting message.
Either you didn’t read properly or I didn’t write properly. It didn’t close on a hopeful note. On the contrary. Thanks for visiting and commenting. I find your work interesting.
I love this:
“tethered child-bitch –
wrenched throat
choking mute”
Beautifully done 🙂
Beautifully done 🙂