Raping School

this is my week 2 assignment for a class. we are supposed to use a correlating object to express thoughts and feelings about a social issue .. its a free on-line class from the University of Iowa

So many changes

Too many failures

She's supposed to succeed.

Her hands clench old and worn books

frayed grey and brown books

broken buildings

It's as though they were her only treasures.

Falling apart at the binding books

curriculum content books

long obsolete; but

in this hood .......... treasures. She can't do any better

He sees her

Waits for her

He devours her plaid skirt just below her knees and

knows she deserves it.

He smiles for her and shows his teeth

his dirty needle teeth to

bite,spit and

drool in school

they call it a crime

He hates her books, her hands, her hope.

He can barely contain the disdain .....he makes more money in a day.

the lunch packed by mother grinds to dirt her

books go down

s'pposed to save .........scattered leaves torn and blown

the dust doesn't settle

it chokes and blinds the lessons lost.
So many changes

and just another failure

Author's Note

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

life teaches us lessons books can't---and some who resent others' learning, want to burn not only the books but also the others' purpose in life...destroy them mentally, physically and emotionally.
like Lydi...want to punch this guy in his ugly , sneering teeth.
heavy hitting here...
the abuser needs to be bound within the pages and the book slammed shut and stepped on.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ...bad guys do exists don't they ;( innocence and opportunity snatched away in a heartbeat .. thanks for reading jacob .. i appreciate the encouraging words
E.

[William Michael Reeves]

This poem hurt. After the first read and knew its conclusion the second time through really hit me hard as I realized what was happening. Her unsuspecting innocence in hope ground into the dirt of toxic masculinity. Primordial deeds I wrote of in 'I Am A Man'. The tragedy of this is so powerful. I'll be pondering this for some time. Good poem.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for finding this one William .. i appreciate your effort to peruse me pages ... yes .. it is an awful thing no matter how one takes this .. thank you again for your time and reviewing me stuff :)
E.

[gram linski]

Loved this , E, high school/college abuse is a normal part of the whole growing up thing, frat parties and rohypnol is the normal place to be, sad but true

[Einstein Noodle]

yes....so sadly true ... our focus has been denigrated to sex and violence in every corner of American life ... and if one takes the high road .. scorn and mockery is the reward ..i wish it were not so ;( really glad you found this one gram .. i really appreciate your take on it!
E.

[gram linski]

No worries E, I imagine it is worse these days, with peer pressure, social media, naked selfies, etc,

[kentuck14]

Noodle,
Can't help but visualize a demon lurking in this poem . . . it's like a symbol of the evil that lurks in the shadows looking for whom it may devour. It seems the violence expressed so well here goes beyond the physical rape to a rape of the soul of every young mind with the contempt that certain people show for innocence and its desire to blossom into something for the good. Well done.
Tom

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much for your reviewing ...you understand all i was trying to say and more ... i feel pretty gratified Tom ... thanks so much!
E.

[kentuck14]

you are more than welcome!

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

Einstein Noodle, this is such a powerful write and we all close our eyes and our minds to the possibility that this could be one of us.

The saving grace is if God does exist, and it is my belief He does, those who have performed such evil acts, in this life, will reap His wrath.

Strangely, I was reading some of the gnostic texts and there was one section that was profound. Supposedly, each evil act we have done in life, we receive a mark on our faces. It may be a boil or a mole or a weeping infectious sore. We cannot see ourselves in darkness, so we will be exposed to light and given a mirror. And what we see is what we become.

That gnostic prophesy detailed God's wrath on us sinners.

Your poem is excellent. :-)

[Einstein Noodle]

so glad you read this one .. i believe also that its God's saving grace that will lift us up and that we all will account for our lives ... i think we will all have a surprise coming as well ... some good... some not so good ;} your review inspires me .. the gnostics are worth learning about i think ... tho i don't believe as they do on several points .. one, that everything material is evil .. on the contrary i think it is mystical itself .. and points one directly at God Almighty ;) so happy you reviewed this one ...i am going to read up more on Gnosticism instead of my "word for the day" ;)) thank you so much!
E.

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

I'm glad I read it too. I read the gnostics as well as many other spiritual/biblical texts as I like having a background on many of the religions.

I would never have known the church split into 2 versions (East and West) in 1054 AD. The Eastern (Greek Orthodox)) church in Istanbul, Turkey is the Hagia Sophia, and the Western (Roman) church is the Vatican. This separation is now referred to as the star of the East-West schism. The Eastern church was taken over by the Ottoman empire and converted into a mosque, but is now a museum.

The o

[Einstein Noodle]

its an incredible and sometimes almost shocking history ..Papacy's efforts to bring East and West more closely together are continuing (a good thing says i) but seemingly to no avail as Greek Orthodoxy resists on those few but resounding sticking points .. a sad thing .... but unity, in my mind, is not necessarily doctrinal ... much of the "differences" are minor and the united part is in God's Spirit only ;) wish we could talk over coffee Tamara ... peace on Earth!

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

Einstein I feel deeply, and of course I may be wrong, that this world is on a collision course with the Almighty. :-)

[Einstein Noodle]

oh T .... i think that is a certainty ;)

[NotUsinganymore]

Very powerful too. As a rape victim, I know what the feeling could be when there's no help at all but you just have to hold your tears.

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my goodness JungLee! i am so sorry for your experience but i also so admire your courage and strength ... i am privileged to have met you here at our Cafe' and share poetry together with everyone else too ... rape is a violent crime and when families and systems fail to protect and provide a stop gap it is beyond tragic .. God bless you at this very special time of year ... healing us was a big part of Jesus' teachings and actions .. love and peace
E.

[NotUsinganymore]

Thank you very much!

[Cherrie Palmer]

...lessons lost...
I can't image anyone turned in a more powerful piece than this.
It's dark, sad and weighted.

[Einstein Noodle]

sorry i somehow missed these "month ago" reviews ...glad JungLee reviewed and brought me to it .. thank you very much Cherrie! your comment really gives me a boost ... thanks so much for taking time and reviewing for me .. it means a lot!
E.

[Cherrie Palmer]

That's okay it happened to me also.

[Pete]

an education is priceless. any learning invaluable and precious. there's book smart and street smart. book smart a lot more innocent. street can be cruel. ignorance is bliss and jealous too. darkness loves darkness and is opposed to the light. poignant write. social issues can be ugly as you remind us. great accompanying song to boot ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha ... so glad you enjoyed the song...old Johnny Winter has long been a favorite "old guy" rocker .... thanks for taking time Pete! i agree...street smart and book smart are very different things ... both can save a persons life in one way or another ... Merry Christmas, Pete and thanks again for reviewing
E.

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

This made me want to kick, scream, and slaughter...the reaction of my warrior nature I suppose. So often these things are swept between the pages and only read about in horror literature. Hard assignment, I hope you got good marks?

[Einstein Noodle]

yes.... swept away by all ... God bless your warrior spirit dear friend ... that is what everyone needs to make this world a better place for all... i couldn't feel any more successful than your being roused by this poem ... thanks so much for visiting me pages once again .. and for taking time to write your review .. i appreciate it very much!
E.

[Neville]

No punches pulled here and got a couple of sneakies in to the kidneys I see.. good on ya Gene.. It seems to me you ticked all the boxes and then some.. if you didn't get top marks for this composition & pass at distinction, then I demand a re-count.. Cheers, N

[Einstein Noodle]

no...in the ring and throwing my hardest .... recount??????? do you have a recounting lisence my friend? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! ;)
E.

[Einstein Noodle]

oops ... sp? lisence .... correction team please....

[Neville]

names and addresses, gimme names and addresses.. how bad do ya want em hurt E.. c'mon tell me bro'...

[Einstein Noodle]

bad my friend...realllllllllllllly baaaaaaaaaad :) meet me at the pool haul at 10

[Neville]

make it half past, I'm rounding up me gang.. :)

[Einstein Noodle]

got it! :))))))))))))))))))) we're gonna kick some butt tonight!!!!!!!! >;/

[Neville]

nah, well kinda.. just wanted a crowd to watch... :)

[ZakLeonRamsey]

Nice poem, but the title, wooooooooooooooh.
I'm gonna give it 100/100. Nice account name,
Einstein Noodle :D

[Einstein Noodle]

i don't believe we have met have we? ... at any rate .. thank you for taking time to find this one .. nice to know that the title was the hook for you ..and about the name ;) i love Einstein and the work he accomplished ..and all his frailties as a human being .. we was quite the flirt you know ... and a poor mathematician .. but ohhhhh the intuitive gifts he had were uncanny .. anyway.. thanks again, glad you liked the read and nice to meet you ... i (like many) have a big liking for Pink Floyd ...see you soon at your place ;)
E.

[ZakLeonRamsey]

I am not sure if we have met or not, but let this be my debut appearance to you, and let you be your debut appearance to me. No problem, any time. What do you mean by, my place??

[Einstein Noodle]

your poetry pages ;)

[ZakLeonRamsey]

Oh, I see :D