Words scorched
With hatred
Whip through her
Soul
Slicing her sense
Of strength, self
Her mouth
Full
Of cruel dust
Her heart
Flattened
A scarlet scarf
Adrift
In rib
-bons
Then finally
Flayed
By a parting
Shot
Skeletal
She staggers
Garners
Her last grain
Of confidence
To kick
Sand in the face
Of her
Attacker
This is offered for Poetryjaam.blogspot.com where Peggy asks us to pen a poem about deserts. What can I say? It was a rough week...And now it's better :-) Happy Friday!
You captured many of the words I associate with deserts. Hope you feel better after writing this! Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteHi Peggy! Yes, I do feel better :-) Thank you for the great prompt!
DeleteGreat job. I like the surprise.
ReplyDeleteHi Gail! Glad you enjoyed that. Couldn't just have her crumple into the sand...;-)
DeleteA nuanced, compelling piece.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy! Thank you, compelling is one of my favorite words :-)
DeleteVivid picture you painted here...
ReplyDeleteHi Jinksy! Nice to see you. Thank you, I was trying for vivid :-)
DeleteWhat's important here is that she remains outraged and not cowed by the attack ... and able to gather strength to rally ... am reading a book called Reading Lolita in Tehran right now ... this poem reminds me of the attacks that ultra-conservative Islamists imposed on women and their silent but defiant retaliation ... so many connections here for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! That sounds like an inspiring book. I am constantly amazed by the strength of women and their ability to bring about change even in very oppressive situations. The women in white in Cuba, Wangari Maathai who won the Nobel Peace Prize. Thank you for that book suggestion, I'm going to look it up :-)
Deletethumbs up to that "Last grain of confidence"
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in at my blog
much love...
Hi Gillena! Thank you for the thumbs up and the love. Really enjoy your poems :-)
DeleteWell, Sara––I can't associate this with desert, but I did associate it with an scorched experience from not-to-long-ago. I vented in a poem and titled it "Transparency." It is what it is. It was what it was. It's satisfying I can find your work on Network Blogs. Donna
ReplyDeleteHi Donna! Thank you for your empathy. I hope to be able to follow the breadcrumbs back to find that poem. I'm happy that you found me :-)
DeleteThis is powerful, Sara... hope your weekend is going well!
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie! Thank you :-) I had a great weekend, hope that you did too.
Deletegood on her for using that last bit of strength to show she will not give in to the persons vile tongue...
ReplyDeleteHi Brian! Thank you for the support :-)
DeleteNice....not every poem is fun but all are truthful and are good to write and read
ReplyDeleteHi Rae! Yes, sometimes I feel like I need to change my "tagline" I started with the goal of always being "up" but life isn't that way and it could get monotonous :-) glad you enjoy both sides
Deleteoh i'm glad she found the confidence to attack the attacker... and that will give her more and new confidence to be who she is
ReplyDelete