October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence

History echoes the screams of women--
violated, abused, ravaged.
Some have heard the death knell--
the last sound ever.

Others live in fearful isolation
with humiliation and pain
endured through many years
silently suffering, lost, nowhere to turn.

Survivors live in seclusion
detached
distant
distrustful

The seclusion every suffering animal craves
to be let alone
to lick their wounds
to heal.

Barbara Baskin 2010 

Woman Suppressed

Photo credit to Preston Surface of Surface & Surface Photography

Stifled

When there were decisions to be made

The woman’s voice was stifled.

When there were opinions to be stated

The woman’s voice was stifled.

When there were rules to be made

The woman’s voice was stifled.

When there were thoughts to be expressed

The woman’s voice was stifled.

When there were ideas to be bandied about

The woman’s voice was stifled.

As if she were faded into the background--unimportant.

Barbara B. Baskin 2010

 

Alone Time

A Little While

You don't understand me
I don't expect you to
This deep spiritual need I have
Directs me differently than you

I am a soul, born unique
Unusual it's true
And I have needs
That I must meet
To do the things I do

Peace at times
I must have
In order to create
Creation is the air I breathe
With no peace I suffocate

Please don't take offense with me
If at times it seems I hide
And shut the world out
Including you
As there's no offense implied

So let me have this time I plea
To do what I do differently
I will be back to laugh and smile
I just need a little while

-Neva Flores 2009  

Simple Beauty

Beautiful Woman

Beautiful woman,

come out and play,

reveal your inner treasures.

The sparkle in your eyes,

the natural swing in your walk,

you radiate excitement and enthusiasm.

You need no latest fashion,

No expensive hair cuts,

No blinding big accessories.

You glow in your passions,

passionate in your pursuits,

you know what you are made of.

You are not easily bothered,

by the mindless opinions of others,

you know very well where you want to go.

you are a joy to watch,

an inspiration to others,

your pure soul an endless marvel.

Beautiful woman,

let your brilliance shine through,

your eyes speak of true inner beauty.

Copyright © 2007 Fion Lim. All rights reserved.

The Girl Within

 

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when you're looking at me?

A crabby old woman not very wise,

Uncertain of habit with faraway eyes.

I'm a small child of ten with a mother and father,

Brothers and sisters who love one another.

A bride in her twenties--my heart gives a leap,

Remembering the vow I promised to keep.

A woman of thirty, my young grow fast,

Bound to each other with a love that should last.

At forty, my sons have grown and have gone,

But my man is beside me, to see I don't mourn.

At fifty, once more babies play around my knees,

Again we know children, my husband and me.

I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel,

'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,

There is now a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,

And now and again my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, and I remember the pains,

And I am living and loving life all over again.

I think of all the years too few, gone too fast,

And accept the stark fact that nothing can last,

So open your eyes nurses, open and see,

Not a crabbed old woman; look closer--see me!

--Author Unknown--