Bruises

.... She hides her beauty well and does not flaunt it .... knowing that a look might kill ..

Bruises

Although she wears them now

Discreetly

Beneath the black lace and her 

Ray Ban's

Each one of them might

Tell a story 

Of lust, of longing and of journeys

Oh' yes ..

Those famous black grape 

Blue contusions

Surely 

The sweetest of all solemn bruises 

Just waiting to be

Found by new and curious disciples

Who each

In turn and time might well one day

Become .. if chosen 

Sincere and the most considerate of lovers ... 

Author's Note

..... sometimes it pays to look just beneath the surface ...

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Violence makes me shudder. All the women who put up with abuse, too terrified of the consequences of reporting it, to do anything about it. I have to say that some men also suffer. The knock-on effect filters down to children in the family. A cycle of destructive damage inflicted. Love and abuse are not good bed partners. If you have suffered this type of abuse, moving on to a new relationship would be so difficult. Wondering whether it will all flare up again let alone how the self esteem plummets to zero. Hard hitting write Neville. Needs to be brought out in the open.

Chris

[Neville]

Yes, it happens and sadly all too often ... Mainly women/female victims, but yes .. in significantly but increasing numbers male victims also .... I have worked with many such victims and with perpetrators too ... Erin Pizzey and her Scream Quietly or the Neighbours Will Hear more than springs to mind ... Thank you Chris ..

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Always welcome and yes Erin Pizzey, well known author on this topic. I would imagine the perpetrators were often victims too of abusive parents or others in childhood.

[.]

From time immemorial women are subjected to violence and a regressive society always want it's women to hide their pain. But somehow a gentle mind can discover the bruises underneath

[Neville]

sometimes I am ashamed of my own species ... more often those of us who carry a Y chromosome ... thank you both kindly and gently my friend ...

Neville

[.]

Touched by your kind words...

[Neville]

more often than not, the truth costs nothing .. N:)

[Dr. YumnaKay]

The part of world I live in, women are actually told to bear with violence, that it is how a man is made to be ;x of course that is changing but the progress is slow and many still hide the abuse they face to 'save' the marriage... your write reminded me of this song Broken by Isak Danielson btw.

[Neville]

it saddens me to hear you say that my friend .. even though I was very much aware of that sad and awful fact ... I sincerely hope things start moving in the right direction and that one day, such events will be universally outlawed and considered totally unacceptable ... I shall check out that song you mentioned ... in the meantime .. stay safe and be well :)

[barleygirl]

Your poem, tho not a bit like "blaming the victim" . . . seems to suggest there might be a teeny bit of pride in wearing those pretty purple bruises . . . & I believe sometimes sympathy is the attention a battered person thinks feels better than being forgotten altogether *sigh!* Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

thank you margie.. I would never blame a victim although, in my line of work, I have known many willing ones .. and you are bang on the mark when you mention sympathy, or attention .. we have an old saying here .. 'there's nowt so queer as folk' .. I have known many who sport their bruises and their scars like old soldiers wear the campaign medals ... often, but not always with pride but rather as a statement (OUCH) fondly, Neville

[Robert Trakofler]

if you only knew what i was writing about for the past few days it would give you a shudder my dear fiance i cough cough I mean... Mr Neville:/ few things bother me more than abuse my old friend... every strike that's made upon an innocent is a strike upon the souls of us all:( I think it is in this realization that comes the repulsion we all feel when we witness its affects in a sort of collective shame. having been intimate with this wretched the triggers are all the more vivid to this old poet. evocative write in brevity brilliance as per usual mr. Nev

[Neville]

Thanks Robert & under the circumstances, a big un too sir ..

[YouoweYoupay]

Oh, f**k. I could almost feel physical pain as I reached the end of the poem. The opening lines brought a little chill under my skin. Just imagining what her skin looked like beneath her clothes and who did this to her. And why she hadn't tried to escape or stop it. The beginning was a little unsettling, the middle stanza was sad, and the ending sparked just a hint of hope. She will meet someone who will take care of her and respect her.

Glad I read this poem. Thanks for sharing the love!
Never stop writing.
~Aysha.

[Neville]

How excruciatingly kind you are my friend .. many thanks for considering these words, the visit and indeed your encouragement are very much appreciated...

Neville :)