Sunday, March 3, 2013

IGWRT's Sunday Mini-Challenge & The Mag #158 "Wilted"


Wilted

I offer joy,

you pick and choose
which petal to stroke,
which to pluck,
pitch upon the breeze
like confetti.

No celebration
as you tiptoe silently
upon darkness,
floorboards protest
as you whisper
of harm, of fright
and prune at will.

Delicate, I await mercy
to slant its veil
of filtered light,
cockcrow your retreat,
my stem bent,
color faded, wilted
but not broken,

not yet.

by Margaret Bednar, March 3, 2013

This poem is written for Imaginary Garden With Real Toad's is highlighting "Woman Scream - International Poetry Festival"   This poem is definitely a "victim" poem, but I 'm sure if you follow the link, you will find many poems of victory and triumph over this horrific violence.

Also, this is Fiction - not written from any experience I have had... but I do know of a few who have endured violence of this sort...

It is also written for The Mag #158 - weekly image HERE.

24 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

There is a South African saying: "Strike a woman and you strike a rock". I wonder though how long any single person can take the abuse before breaking. Your image of a damaged flower is very moving.

Mary said...

Very sad. Not broken YET! Hopefully never. But..... A poignant and thoughtful poem!

Kathe W. said...

very thoughtful and powerful poem

Unknown said...

Very moving!

TexWisGirl said...

wow. hang in there, unbeaten one!

Amrit Sinha said...

Touching words !!!

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm glad for the glimmer of hope at the end. Well done!

This part is stunning:

as you whisper
of harm, of fright
and prune at will.

Laurie Kolp said...

Hi, Margaret... cockcrow your retreat... intriquing line... poignant piece.

Berowne said...

The moving story of a garden plant. Well done...

Susie Clevenger said...

Wilted but not broken..yet...what a poignant write from a victim's viewpoint..Thank you so much for sharing on such a difficult subject.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Very moving - not broken yet! We are so much stronger than we start out believing!

Peggy said...

Such a good piece and so apt a metaphor.

Scarlet said...

I like the metaphor of the flower, stem bent, color faded, wilted but not broken ~ Very lovely response ~

Unknown said...

You give us a view from the perspective of the victim. I cannot relate, but this give me a glimpse.

ninotaziz said...

In the garden, we find life's truths.

21 Wits said...

Ah very nice, and in true love all is never broken...

Jennifer Wagner said...

'not yet' I love that...just enough hope in it to believe she will get stronger and will be heard. I enjoyed the petal imagery very much as well. Nicely done Margaret! :-)

GoddessChhavi said...

"upon darkness,
floorboards protest
as you whisper
of harm, of fright
and prune at will."

You've captured the fear in a woman's heart truly in poetry. We all are wilted but not broken yet.

izzy said...

Plucking and casting petals about,
very interesting image. I can feel them- I know how they roll up, or pinch between fingers. I am glad you shed them without breaking-

Little Nell said...

I like 'wilted but not broken' - powerfully defiant.

Ella said...

Beautiful and sad! ;D so well done!
I love how you wrote this Margaret~
Bravo

Ginnie Hart said...

Very powerfully written with a glimmer of hope, Margaret. I'm so glad there is attention being given to this kind of violence right now and pray there will be ripples of change all over the world.

You didn't mention but do I assume that is your image? If so, it's beautiful.

Anonymous said...

This is wonderfully written. Despite the sad tone, you've left us with hope. Nicely done.

Silent Otto said...

You really captured the tension in this , thanks