How can you say that you will show
Your inner truth like blood on snow
When you keep truth hidden inside
Rather than risk hurting your pride
How deep within does your pain go?
What you hide within cannot grow
The light in your soul will not show
Do you know what resides inside
How can you say
Do you think that your love can grow
Not letting your true colors show
Who you are is always denied
What you wish is hidden inside
Is a lie worth getting to know
How can you say
~Cie~
Prompts Used:
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Note:
For tonight's exercise in self-abuse, I have chosen the Rondeau. I don't know about you, but I find this to be a challenging form.
Here is how you form a Rondeau.
(1) A A B B A (2) A A B with refrain: C (3) A A B B A with concluding refrain C. The refrain must be identical with the beginning of the first line.
Christine says that while she encourages pieces that touch on the lived experiences of those who identify as LGBTQ for the Pride Anthem challenge, it isn't a requirement.
While I for one give not one single rip about anyone's sexual orientation and would ask that others return me the same courtesy, I will disclose that my poem was written from the POV of someone who hid their mental health issues for many years as opposed to someone who felt forced into the closet regarding their sexuality. However, the poem is for anyone who feels as if they have had to hide a key part of themselves in the often closed-minded world in which we live.
Having to hide parts of who we are is a slow death, a slow death that is rarely the fault of the person--our society is just such a mess.
ReplyDeleteExactly. I was diagnosed with type 2 bipolar disorder at 38. Initially, I tried to keep my diagnosis hidden, but I ended up getting really pissed off about the absolutely dreadful things that even "good" people would say about mental illness. I was working one night and one of my co-workers made a crack about "crazy" people, and I said "Yes, and you never know when you might be working with one, now do you?" I got up and left the break room. Nobody ever made a remark like that again in my presence, but they also never apologized to me for having done so.
DeleteI was badly bullied all through school, and as a teenager, I started self-harming. I often wore long sleeves to cover the cuts on my arms.
I tend to be very open about the things I've gone through because I would a) like anyone who's going through something similar to know they're not alone and b) hopefully make people think about the judgments they have about others.
Powerful response to Magaly's comment. Wow - yes, we do guard ourselves, but really society needs to learn - it is true bravery to face "them". My son just got done reading a book "Wonder" - in fifth grade. I cried many times reading that book with him. Good on you for doing such a complicated form - I think you got the message across.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of having need to grow which will not happen if things are held back, in the dark. I believe most folk hold back some aspects to and incidents/behavior which are a part of or in their lives. I sure have. They will die when I do.
ReplyDelete..
A very interesting response to the illustration... truth kept hidden can be a blight upon the soul.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful use of the prompt!
ReplyDeleteI've re-read this a few times and my breath always catches on the "truth like blood on snow" part. It's got the perfect fairy tale feel that suits the picture so well, but it also shows that sometimes the living of one's own truth *will* be painful, but not as soul vivisecting as living a lie.
ReplyDeleteHaving to hide what you are is something we all have to do to some extent... but when we hide everything it's just pain...
ReplyDelete"Is a lie worth getting to know"
ReplyDeleteI feel this at the core of this poem.