Emily was totally exhausted after another sleepless night.
All that worry and anxiety caused her so much fright
The abuse had been hideous, nobody had the right
to violate a child who always felt as if no end were in sight
Her experience had left her with nightmares pale and white
Victimhood wrapped tightly around her with all her might
Family and friends tending to avoid her odious plight
could she now become victor by wise choices in spite!
Experiences shape us but our attitude and choices define us
Forgiveness can heal although we never forget such blight …
Carrot Ranch Challenge, April 25, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes exhaustion. Who is exhausted and why? Can you make art of exhaustion? Go where the prompt leads!
aroused 
I was trying to explain to a friend the other day that forgiveness isn’t going to make what the other person did but letting go of the hold it has on you
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absolutely, you said it well Eliza … holding onto it is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die …
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Okay, I like that analogy. Though it’s so true too……
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Forgiveness – the key to life, great write Kate another deep one.
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yes, starting to think I need to lighten up a bit Paul 🙂
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Why, the deep stuff is from the heart
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yeh but many like the cheerful stuff ….
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Some years ago I read an article on writing, and one of the many rules was, don’t write to your audience, write from the heart and that will reach everyone.
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I appreciate how your poem confronts the silence and offers a choice beyond victimhood. To be the victor, the blight has to be acknowledged and that can be hard, but after that, it can become empowering.
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well said Charli, acknowledgement is half the battle …
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[…] Exhaustion by calmkate […]
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I love how you took the prompt in such a different and difficult direction, that too with such finesse. Beautifully written!
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You have done a brilliant job of writing around the prompt. Not only you created a story bit also added the element of despair and sadness to it.
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The last too lines – so much truth there….
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All truth. A powerful, important write, Kate! Thank you!
I can relate to what you’ve shared…relate VERY well.
I’ve always chosen/ taken this “road”…not let my past, and that pain, define me or determine my future. Not let my past and it’s pain use me…I use it to share understanding, help, and love with others who are suffering.
(((HUGS)))
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Too often it is in spite of what others deem appropriate; like demanding silents or not even believing. So an individual has to make the choice to move forward with those who offer support.
As you say forgiveness of any betrayal is possible, but one cannot forget, because all that happens to us makes us who we are as we process and proceed. The ‘in spite’ part rings harmoniously when there is a positive turn in our lives and living.
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Your poems are emotional. We can forgive, but the pain will not be forgotten. The memory will be in us forever.
I cordially thank you
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Wonderful writing Kate but I feel some crimes can’t but be forgive, one just learn to live with the pain by putting energy in positive things.
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Forgiveness can heal although we never forget such blight … i like that you said it kate..over the years we were told that to forgive s also to forget…
But in all honesty its really difficult to forget even though yes, we have forgiven…
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I can totally relate to your poem. I’ve forgiven but I’ve not forgotten.
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no one ever does, the scars are deep Susan, sorry you suffered!
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part of healing is forgiving, but forgetting says the act was not evil, so yes your last line carries much weight
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these wounds run so deep Gina … so many end up in goal, psych units, addicted or doing sex work … yet some have managed to turn it around
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You are right in saying you can forgive, but you will never forget. It is all in how you perceive those memories. They can make you or break you.. The choice is always yours.
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Wonderful response to the challenge.
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Beautifully described the plight of a victim.
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thanks Sadje and with a choice to become a victor!
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You do manage to create very emotional poems and pieces of writing, Kate. Well done.
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Oh! Such a painful plight! How we react to a situation truly defines us!!
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Well done, Kate. I think this line spells out the truth quite clearly: Experiences shape us but our attitude and choices define us.
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