Rhonda had been sexually abused as a child
by a door to door salesman at three
then her own brother at eleven
raped by a mate at twenty
her mother wouldn’t believe her
had raised her sons as entitled white men
women their mere servants to offer sexual favours
her mother a fault finding continuously put Rhonda down
the mental and emotional abuse were relentless
what message did Rhonda get …
then later in life Rhonda knew it was all wrong
nobody should be subjected to such ongoing abuse
her mother now the worst offender
the salesmen never reprimanded
her brother denied it ardently
her mate a medical professional who’d raped five she knew of
this left her free to be herself
with no compulsion to conform to society
her inner seer shouted loudly
‘You will love again the stranger who was your self’.
dVerse, Prosery #3 Love, 144 words, Kim to include the sentence …
‘You will love again the stranger who was your self’. Pic courtesy of google
Such a heartbreaking poem!
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oh sorry I thought it had an upbeat ending …
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It has, but the content does make one feel sad…anyway, I said it in a good way, the emotions come through very well.
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oh I didn’t take offense, it’s a heavy combination of stories from a previous job .. so many face such challenges, many become victims but some rise above … wanted to show that we can arise above what may feel insurmountable 🙂
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I agree. Such things do make the heart ache for people who have had it rough, but it is heartening toknow that there are those helping hands who have steadied many lives gone wrong…
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they just need some support until they can work through it, many survive and thrive, some never quite climb out …
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[…] Rhonda came riding riding speeding down the cycle path flying by the crashing waves dampened by the salt sea spray with drifts of wind blown sand […]
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The gremlin is strong on this post, I say.
My earlier comment has vanished, along with your reply, which I was reading up in my notifications. Before I could reply on it, poof!
Gone it was!!
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This might help:
1. Open this link in your browser https://akismet.com/contact/
2. Then scroll down to the heading “Please tell us more” and select the bullet point “I think Akismet is catching my comments by mistake.” 3. Complete and submit the form at the bottom of the page.
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Nice poem Kate! No problems on my end! I am able to read and comment but I get posts via email! Xxxx
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i was just going to mention that you disappeared from my reader and had to keep looking you up, found out i had unfollowed you, wonder how WP made that happen, anyway i am back now!! love your flash with poetic sweetness
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Gut wrenching.
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This is powerful and raw.
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Powerful and oh-so-true for oh-so-many!
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yes sadly too many but relieved that some manage to recover and pray more do!
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Amen to that! Healing is possible.
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A sad scenario for sure! It would take a lot to come back and find your innocent self once again!.
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ah this character managed that only too well in my post call cycling … some do most don’t
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Hat’s off to her for climbing out of the hell hole! We need to learn from her how to look forward.
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yep and know that it can be done!
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Powerful and way to truthful for way too many. When they don’t have a voice, we must be their voice and the ones who hold them up when they can’t stand on their own…to show them their value and their worth.
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exactly Elizabeth, these are the true friends indeed!
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Some of us have such awful lives and it takes guts to overcome it all. You’ve given me much to think about. Such a tragic story, but some hope at the end. Why conform to a society that turns a blind eye?
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exactly, we all need to be comfortable in our own skin .. that’s what really matters
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Heart-wrenching and raw. But what an ending: to rise above the priviledged violence inflicted by those of the patriarchy, to love one’s self! Well done!
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the patriarchy were only part of the issue Frank, the disbelieving and misogynistic mother seemed particularly violent!
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That she did! I assumed she was a Co-opted part of the Patriarchy.
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oh no I have seen too many women keen to sacrifice their daughters for whatever reason … the cruelty of that betrayal often cuts deeper than any patriarchal abuse
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Ah. You portray that betrayal vividly!
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I think she has found the only way to redeem herself… such strength
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thanks Bjorn, seems most of us wrote from a similar perspective on this one
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She became the survivor, not the victim. Good for Rhonda!
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we all need to know it can be done thanks Beverly
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To accept the past as unchangeable and to embrace the malleability of the future is to become the shaper of one’s own destiny. I love the way you start out with despair and end with hope.
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thanks for such a kind and insightful comment
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Powerful! Poignant! Reality to too many! 😦
You always understand and you always point us to hope, evolving, healing, help, etc. Thank you, SweetKate! 🙂
I work on not letting my past determine or dominate or defeat my today and my tomorrow….but I do let my past help me help other people.
HUGS!!! 🙂
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yes and that’s the best way to deal with it Carolyn, own it and helping others through it, such an empowering way to heal ❤
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Predators can smell a victim and zero in on them to abuse them more….
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yes, I believe you’re right George while the system offers no actual protection at all …
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yet if their luxury vehicle is stolen … look out!
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Despite its unfathomable trials, the story ends well for Rhonda, as her persistence ultimately brings triumph. They’re the fires that forged her true character. Rhonda’s quality prevailed,
This poem, then, is a wonderful means of encouraging others. Rhonda took an awful situation and made it sublime. But for more just like her.
Actually, aspects of life are tough for everyone, even if you’re a Rockefeller heir. Naturally, some challenges are more daunting than are others, some dramatically so. Still, the Rhondas of this world light the path and show the way forward.
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ah Keith so glad you got it … it can be done no matter how tough the past, we all have the ability but many lack the determination …
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Kate, your words took me on a rollercoaster ride, without any safety equipment. Thank goodness Rhonda might yet love again.
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please be sure to read the post before ‘cycling’, it’s about Rhonda now 🙂
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wonderful how you’ve taken a grisly issue and given it voice.
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thanks Paul, do my best to keep taboo subjects discussed …
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And just as well, many won’t/can’t
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