Written 3rd October 2000.
Photograph taken by, Theresa Jodray
Working with the abused, what I've seen.
In a poem and short article.
Blank dead stare,
is that all that's there?
Expressionless face,
what's hid inside that space?
Raging violent behavior,
act out this awful anger.
Tattered torn clothes,
More to that, then people know.
Voiceless open mouth,
Express this, scream it out!
Eye's down in disgrace,
Another should take your place.
Crayons on the pad,
Show this world your really mad!
Psycho-tropic drugs,
Society gives you love.
You are not the one insane,
It's who gave to you this pain.
Here is a counselor for you sweets,
Play the game receive a treat.
Other people don't want to hear
what happened to you for years.
If more don't understand,
The cycle begins again!
You know no other way,
For your child I will pray.
After years of working with children and adults who have been abused one of the things I have noticed is how people don't know how to deal with these children. Many of them are put on drugs to deal with what they have been through pushed along through The foster care system for years till they become adults. The system is something they do learn to use. As they have to survive within it after all that is their life. Most of them need to be taught many things. Simple things, for us. How to dress themselves how to eat with out hiding food for later incase there isn't any. How to take a bath, yes this bed is yours. The poem above is for someone I worked with. She was killed, but she had a baby.
This shines a light in a very dark place. Keep on shining it! Sometimes folks need to hear what they don't want to listen to. This is an area that people shun. Thank you for calling attention to it.
It is good you got to know them ...whoever sent them to you did good ,perhaps their life did not change due to seeing you, perhaps it did,one thing for certain is the story got out due to you and we read it and we had to think and that makes all the difference.I agree drugs are bad ,even prescribed ones,I wrote this line in my poem 'Message to hurt women," I think you might agree with it:
:
'pills that help you cope with hell
turn you into...'just a shell'.
Thank you for sharing this story ,(poem)it is the sort of thing in life that truly makes me want to disappear permanently as I hate knowing those people (the ones who hurt others) really are out there .None of us want to see them (I don't) or look at them,but we have to as we can't help to change things unless we look and see.... these sort of things (people who abuse others)are just the opposite of lifes beauty.I hate that ...and living with the fact that they are out there...why are they?
That is the answer we need.You brought my attention to them ,you did good
Theresa F Jodray .Great poem!
Reviewed by Smoke Martin (Reader)
Reviewed on September 8, 2002
Wonderfully written. Working with abused, neglected and dependent children I know what you mean. As well as surviving my own ghosts. Thanks for a touching, sad, and oh too true read.
>tears < what a powerful, emotional write!! a good poem with a timely message!! great job, theresa!! love, and ((HUGS)), your friend, karen lynn. god bless you!!
This is so true--the abused are clueless what nurturing they are missing unless someone takes the Time, and then they have babies and become abusers. There is NO SAFE
AVENUE for a concerned person to say, "I am afraid I could hurt a child--I need help."
We wait until it happens, and then look at abusers like monsters who surely knew better.
I find that most people don't listen, unless there's some good news for them to hear.
That is why sometimes the abused kept being abused, and the abuser gets worse.
People only want to hear something pleasant, they don't want to hear about something bad, for they don't want to be the one who has to deal with it......and therefore the silence grows!
May LU $*_*$ / Sandie Angel :o)
Reviewed by Alexander Shaumyan (Reader)
Reviewed on September 8, 2002
Great message. It's all about priorities in life.
Reviewed by Ron (sketchman) Axelson (Reader)
Reviewed on September 8, 2002
When the abused speak I should listen. The abused feel so much guilt, but they can change their feelings with our accepting them and showing we care.
I was abused mentally, and was always told to just forget about it, but I've found keeping it bottled up is the wrong way.
Thanks for this, a great message.
Sorry I couldn't help it either.
Bless you TJ for doing what not many care to do or hear about. It is such a sad commentary for this richest nation on earth to have such problems now at this advanced age of progress. The reason power and greed are the top priorities! Children don't thrive well in a materialistic society, and we have never learned this. Sorry I couldn't help myself;-)
If you tend to believe romantic, passionate, masculine poetry is a thing of past eras, read "She Intrigues Me," and be swept away in the beautiful craft of a contemporary poet of love.
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'pills that help you cope with hell
turn you into...'just a shell'.
Thank you for sharing this story ,(poem)it is the sort of thing in life that truly makes me want to disappear permanently as I hate knowing those people (the ones who hurt others) really are out there .None of us want to see them (I don't) or look at them,but we have to as we can't help to change things unless we look and see.... these sort of things (people who abuse others)are just the opposite of lifes beauty.I hate that ...and living with the fact that they are out there...why are they?
That is the answer we need.You brought my attention to them ,you did good
Theresa F Jodray .Great poem!
Love & Blessings, Janet xoxoxo
Theresa ___You Always Were in Beginning As In The End...
Your Friend, TRASK
AVENUE for a concerned person to say, "I am afraid I could hurt a child--I need help."
We wait until it happens, and then look at abusers like monsters who surely knew better.
That is why sometimes the abused kept being abused, and the abuser gets worse.
People only want to hear something pleasant, they don't want to hear about something bad, for they don't want to be the one who has to deal with it......and therefore the silence grows!
May LU $*_*$ / Sandie Angel :o)
I was abused mentally, and was always told to just forget about it, but I've found keeping it bottled up is the wrong way.
Thanks for this, a great message.
Sorry I couldn't help it either.