After the screaming stopped
She stood on tiptoe
eyes level with
The Harrowing and
breathed an oath
to self with seven
year old lips shivering
in the thin air of that night
She stood on tiptoe
"I saw" she'd later swear
but she was seven
either unreliable or
imaginative
standing in pajamas
so thin - transparent
light shone through
She stood on tiptoes
and she swore
that even after grubs
feasted on her marrow
she would march to her
own singular drum
beating her own rhythm
of rare pure certainty
She swore this silent
oath to her small self
that never would her own
dainty daughter stand
on tiptoe in any star soaked
future night
never would her daughter
peek through a cold
window - trying to guess
why Mother
would allow herself to lie
lip bloodied - limp legs
flung wide - under him
Standing on numb tiptoes
she warmed her future
child - swaddled in blankets
soft with protection and
sweet lullabies
Standing on tiptoes
Standing on tiptoes
she vowed Never to be
the rag doll woman
cast-off - crumpled -
preternaturally still
as her heart pounded
as her heart pounded
in that final frigid night
On bare tiptoes
she held onto the sill
outside their window
she held onto the sill
outside their window
under cold staring stars -
ice chips glinting in black night
clenched toes, wide eyes
transfixed after she threw covers
and fled the precarious safety of bed
transfixed after she threw covers
and fled the precarious safety of bed
awakened by that sudden silence
and the sudden stop of the constant
shimmer of screams.
shimmer of screams.
'Harrowing' sums it up...
ReplyDeleteThis is so vivid, I can picture that little girl staring out the window, so sad and your final line takes my breath away.
ReplyDeleteThis breaks my heart, well done with the repetition this is a beautifully written
ReplyDeleteA mother's love.....true love....
ReplyDeleteMother;s love is true love
ReplyDeleteWhew, this took my breath away. I hope she never DOES become that 'rag doll woman.' I hope her resolve holds!
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement with Stan, Pearl. Holy buckets, this piece carries a chill. Thanks for shedding light on abuse. Its prevalence is daunting. The abuser gets it in the end of mine this week. ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, this really packs a punch and I mean it both ways. I was inside of that little girl and you made me believe she was really there on the outside of her window staring at her mother on the pavement. Amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo many images: "ice chips glinting in black night", "...constant shimmer of screams" Very powerful!!!
Yikes! Harrowing, powerful, like the other posters, your piece gave me a chill through the marrow!
ReplyDeleteHarrowing depiction of domestic abuse from the title to the last gripping line! Hope she was able to keep her promise to herself!Even the Breeze
ReplyDeleteOh Heavens Pearl - harrowing indeed. The imagery astounds - very well written.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
This one hit me right where I live, kiddo. I was that child, lying trembling in bed, terrified when the screaming stopped - wondering which of them was dead, and whether I'd be left with the wrong one. You totally nailed this as only someone who has lived through it can. Whew. I am having to force myself to start breathing again.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is breaking for this child. Going to hug my children now and be grateful for my life.
ReplyDeleteIntense, vivid, haunting poem, wow as previously said, I'm glad for my life.
ReplyDeleteThe previous comments have said it all. This is a powerful indictment of the beast in man. Just keep shouting "It is not OK".
ReplyDeleteBeautiful description! So touching!
ReplyDeleteA heart wrenching story that chills me to the bone and fills me with indignation. I wouldn't have wanted to miss reading this but wished I never had to.
ReplyDeleteBrr... Made me shiver. Great use of the words.
ReplyDeleteOMG!
ReplyDeleteIt is beautifully written - I think I'll never forget the phrase' shimmer of screams' - and that makes it all the more horrifying.
I found this terrifyingly wonderful!
ReplyDelete