... Their diseases, their twisted bodies, their horrible injuries captured for all time and prosperity in medical daguerreotypes that hide the eyes behind black bars of shame: Persona non grata to look at with pity and yes, even disgust -- can't tear your eyes away from what you see, these freaks who parade before you: 'There, but for the Grace of God,' you think as you return to your normal world, where everything works as it should: not like those oddities who are trapped between pages of reference books who would escape if they only could, just waiting for the moment when some curious fingers unlock them from their private hell to be remembered that they, once, too, lived here among us. They still do. We just stare openly instead of looking at photographs ...
Excellent pen Karla, yes you are right!...It is within the human nature of us to look. It is how we look and feel, do we look with compassion, love, understanding, a brotherly type love, as we should for we all were created by the same! Great write my friend!
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
Interesting and sensitive topic, but in the sense of being creative in how you presented it, sensitively...
I felt an ire in the voice that stands up and above the passings of judgements, while embracing with compassion for what is right and fair and loving!
Excellent!
Love and Peace~
Kimmy~
My great grandfather saw the first daguerreotypes and was amazed, like I was when I saw the first TV picture and, like my grat-grandson I hope will be, when he sees the pictures of another planet like ours with people there that hadn't see yet their first daguerreotype!!!
Georg
A friendly greeting, when in close proximity to such a person, might be the simple courtesy that makes someone feel good. To stare or turn away--neither might be the best answer.
A colleague of mine had a son born a dwarf. All I wanted to do was look away, but instead, I made a point of talking with him and realized he was a person and human being with all the same feelings shared among the masses. I saw what was inside him from then on rather than what his physical characteristics were. (Our goal should be to make a friendly difference in someone's life.)
everyone looks ... the difference is whether we look with brotherly compassion or with disdain ... the more enlightened do the latter, knowing we all come from the same source ...
Wow, Karla! I came running, to read this when I saw your title: I love daguerreotypes - we even have a few of our ancestors - so I was shocked, by the actual content of your poem!
What an amazing mind you have - and what wonderful compassion, Karla.
Speaking for myself, instead of staring, I say a prayer for the LORD to deliver them out! And then offer help if I can...and if they need some, of course.
Too many people stare.......because THEY have crippled or distorted hearts. But then some just do not understand either. God bless your heart for embarking on such a tender but necessary subject.
Karla this is so true, you hit the nail on the head with this one, thank you for sharing, write on and be blessed in the writing...
God Bless
Michelle~
Very insightful write, Karla; I remember looking at the so-called "tragedies", the poster children and adults of medical misfortune. You wondered how something like this could have happened; how someone could live with devastating conditions or injuries. Now like you said in the last two lines, we stare openly at their infirmities and pass judgement based on this. Instead of getting to know the real person--i.e., how they are inside--, we look at their disabilities and mock them or treat them like second class citizens. Sad. Very powerful and excellent write; very well done! BRAVA!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your twin sister, Karen Lynn. :(
Deputy Dave Jenkins investigates the murder of local high school principal, Jerry Egge, but this is a multi-faceted novel that deals with spiritualism, romance, friendship, and children who fall through the cracks.
"Murder isn't usually this
The deep-dive literary meditations presented as stories, poems, and essays in The American Poet Who Went Home Again, A Mosaic of My Soul at Work, have captivated and inspired readers ever since its first paperback publication in 2008.
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Thank you for your review.
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
Reindeer
Love Tinka
I felt an ire in the voice that stands up and above the passings of judgements, while embracing with compassion for what is right and fair and loving!
Excellent!
Love and Peace~
Kimmy~
Georg
A colleague of mine had a son born a dwarf. All I wanted to do was look away, but instead, I made a point of talking with him and realized he was a person and human being with all the same feelings shared among the masses. I saw what was inside him from then on rather than what his physical characteristics were. (Our goal should be to make a friendly difference in someone's life.)
Be safe,
Karen
excellent pen, Karla ...
What an amazing mind you have - and what wonderful compassion, Karla.
Speaking for myself, instead of staring, I say a prayer for the LORD to deliver them out! And then offer help if I can...and if they need some, of course.
Too many people stare.......because THEY have crippled or distorted hearts. But then some just do not understand either. God bless your heart for embarking on such a tender but necessary subject.
Hope all is well for you
Love&Hugs, Rhonda
YF
Ron
God Bless
Michelle~
(((HUGS))) and much love, your twin sister, Karen Lynn. :(
Love,
Eileen