Spoken Word Poem -- "Monsters"

I've debated with myself a long time about whether I should do a reading of this poem. It's a very difficult one for me. It was difficult to write and it remains a hard read. I finally decided to just

Monsters, monsters everywhere…

Mother monster too wounded to care…

Monster peers so vile…

Kindred monsters, secrets keeping…

Hounding, pounding, clutching, tearing…

Monster peers catching you out of sight…

Ripping cloth, clutching you and dragging…

To hateful, vile purpose.

Kindred monsters, can’t be trusted…

Touching, whispering loathsome words…

Hidden moments, scarring the soul…

Keep the secret or worse will come.

Belts swing, bruises rise black and purple…

Cutting deep, whipping, lashing switches…

Monster Mother played out her rage…

Her wounded soul striped ‘pon her babes.

I wasn’t becoming the monster I hated…

I was falling… falling… falling…

Down a black, endless chasm…

Toward complete self obliteration.

Until a new friend, sister of my heart…

Walked me out of the darkness…

Picked me up, egged me on…

Wouldn’t let me stop ’til we embraced the light!

Original poem © 21 August 2014, by D. Denise Dianaty

This poem is dedicated to Diane, the best Christian example I could have known. The Lord used her to draw me back to Him. In His infinite Grace, He made her the sister of my heart. Through Him, she led me out of pain and darkness, and wouldn't let me stop, refused to leave me behind. Because of her, I became the person my husband grew to love… the person who learned to be loved.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

there is such darkness when there is abuse in a family...and it is so damaging...so glad the speaker had a friend to pull her out of this darkness...to move forward and allow love to come in.
powerful poem, but oh my god, what a read...exceptional.
j.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you, Jacob. It was a difficult read for me… brought up so much old pain.

I think the worst thing about abuse in a family is that when there is abuse from outside the family, the abused have no safe harbor, no where to turn. If you've never really been safe, been able to trust that you will be believed and defended, to whom will you be able to turn. And, that's what makes the journey of survival and learning self-love and trust so difficult. It's why so many broken people do not heal, but go on to perpetuate the suffering they suffered onto the next generation… and the next… and the next…

[Rhayne]

I can relate, being a victim of abuse myself. At an early age I promised myself that I would not raise my children the way my Mother raised me. I consciously stayed focused on how my Father treated me and that is how I raised my three. They have made me proud of them, of myself and of my Father. It's sad when one doesn't have someone they can trust and mentor them. It's nearly impossible to pull out of the trend of abuse as you grow older.

Very good read to some and hard for others but needed to remind.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.

For me, that example was my grandparents with whom I stayed every summer.