Glossy dried blood stains

If we don't have empathy, what will make us human?

Hands soaked in blood,
bodies of 8 year olds marked with lashes of leather belt.
Tears don't exist, fears but do.
On the lips of us all.
Cover your eyes or you wouldn't be able to live.
Look around, don't see.
The Hungry stomachs are shouting, don't answer their plea.
You see we have a Legacy of silence and a history of violence.
Programmed to tyrrany, designed for destiny. Misogyny in the air, steady your sight.
Don't let your hands tremble, don't dare to fight.
You see the back of a hand is the best teacher and anger in the eyes is the latest feature.
The beating makes sure that the response for stimulus of the skin is numbed and the shouting kills every last voice.
A white belt of void.
Yes a white belt, not Black.
Try the next smack.
A murderer first murders to protect.
Yes, a murder is a protector too.
To protect himself or the sister he loved.
To protect herself or the mother she cherished.
That boy saw her mother get raped and the other one saw her sister's get taped.
These are arrows that hit destructible parts inside, because we can't see their slammering heart hidden in plain sight.
You see I'm not trying to justify violence for once I dare to reason it.
I'll trace the Ugly patterns of blood and paranoia back to the beginning.
So, hold my finger and move along.
U see causing pain makes you hurt a little less,
At least pick up a cloth and try to clean this mess.
People ask me, "why are you so angry all the time?"
All I say is, "why aren't you"
A calloused shell so we don't feel their cramps of Hunger.
Scented flowers and silver cutlery to fill the gap, look we're still asunder.
Ego tussle with bones to brittle,
manicured hands but minds cripple.
Stop. Just stop...
Cheekhe sadko par na sunai de,
Imarato me phir bhi goonjti hai.
Suno, un cheekho ko.
Dard bhale tumhara na ho, tumhare Kisi apne ka hoga.
Dhundho, us Dard ko.
Aansu baha lo do- Char, us Gam Mein Doob Jao.
Kal Suraj niklega, muskurana hai kal fir. Listen to the young screams seeking you in the dark,
break the shells too hard for a start.
WHOA.
Slow down. Find some minutes from your busy weekend, go to the park.
Sit down on the swing, for a minute or two. And weep hard, for you know you saw those traces of glossy dried blood stains on the tyres of the bus you got down the other day. The blood of someone who was foolish enough to not care for a moment.

Author's Note

Please review my work as this is my first. I really need your support.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

When we get worked up over something, intensely emotional, we find ways to decompress.
But there is no decompression for abuse as a child...and yes, those who are abuse may protect others at first, and then might turn to abuse themselves.
When it is all we know, it is all we know.
Powerful message in these words.
Tyranny never has a human side.
j.

[Ankita Dwivedi]

people have various coping mechanisms as u said .tyranny never has a human side yet so many humans are tyrants.maybe, they are not humans at all .Just the mould of flesh and bones .i.e. what is defined as a human structure.But being human takes more than that .thank you ,mate

[Paul Bell]

21st century, and not a lot has changed, you can even rape a kid and put it online.
War gives the other abusers their chance to rape and kill.
Sadly the governments that would have stepped in once upon a time now turn a blind eye.
Ethnic cleansing has now reached global proportions and will probably never stop.

[Ankita Dwivedi]

So true and unfortunate.. We should not turn a blind eye but we do.

[Anomitra Sarkar]

This thing speaks emotions and general practises of countries like ours. The best thing about the use of words in such a manner it expresses very emotion you're trying to speak. It drains to the heart. It's awesome

[Phanidhar]

Deeply thought and crafted poetry

[Lorry]

I think the only thing I am most amazed by, more than all the technological achievements that connect each and every one of us, is what humanity has not achieved, in looking after all of humanity.
There should be a universal basic income for all, not just those who by a geographic accident were born in a certain place and have a more comfortable life because of it.
Loved the why aren't you line about being angry, we should be.
Think about it for a second, any one of us could have been child labour, war torn and victimised, and if we're lucky, one of the priveleged few... But it shouldn't be down to luck.
And nice venting too 😀

[Ankita Dwivedi]

i do vent things at times , yeah ! And so truly and kindly ,you have said that we could have been the underpriviliged .Sometimes, When someone we don't know dies ,we cry.Because we picture ourselves .Because anyone could be dead right now ..
Love, Ankita

[Abhishek Asthana]

A violent start with the violent writing stuff, so dense indeed. I find gigantic Hindi lines in the last-half as a surprising package. A thoughtful write imparting a strong lesson here that once can witness within this piece. Keep writing !!

[Ankita Dwivedi]

Yeah , i write a bit harsh at times ..because i want the thought to stay and make the reader dwell .Many thanks for visiting .
Love, Ankita

[Abhishek Asthana]

Your welcome

[Einstein Noodle]

welcome to the Cafe' Ankita! I hope you find your journey in writing here a fruitful one.
your write! whew! hard hitting .. the theme is never one to "go away" .. sadly abuse raises abuse too many times ... generations impacted by it until the cycle is broken by strong courageous hearts .. i think you highlighting the "hidden" aspects and the self inflicted blinding in those who are the ones that are supposed to protect ... :( my heart is struck by the pain of it all .. so you have touched me ... so sad ... :((( these lines especially impacted me:
"So, hold my finger and move along.
U see causing pain makes you hurt a little less," ...i think it goes to the center of abusers motivations .. not to over simplify ...but i think it is what makes the "bully" strike out. Well done!
E.

[Ankita Dwivedi]

thank you so much sir, for your warm welcome and kind words ..It's been a week hardly and i am learning so much already.I do want my reader to think and take whatever small or big steps they can to make this world a better place .
Love, Ankita

[barleygirl]

You sent me a friend request & I said "no" . . . soon after, you send another friend request. Also, sometimes when you review people, you urge them to review you. This is not the way things go at the cafe, in my experience. If you review others, the good ones will review you back. If you beg for reviews, you might not get honest useful reviews. People want to become friends here after you show your writing is what people want to come back to read, again & again. You have posted only 2 poems which I find a little hard to read, so it's not a convincing collection. (Lines like this, from this poem: "The beating makes sure that the response for stimulus of the skin is numbed and the shouting kills every last voice." -- an example of writing that makes my eyes glaze over as I try to figure out what this means). You're a very strong writer & you convey passion & clarity in your messages, but I also find it hard to stay focused as I read becuz your messages are long & rambling. Other people may love your writing for the very same reasons. You need to let people gravitate to you if your writing is what people want to read & review. Your over-eagerness tends to push people like me away from you, not toward you. I'm sorry for being unfriendly, but friendship takes time & back-and-forth effort over weeks & months. I wish you the best in finding the feedback that makes you feel the most motivated to write (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Ankita Dwivedi]

I am sorry you felt that way and I was trying to be friendly, yeah. Because there are so many experienced people here I want to learn from them. I don't what else to say.
Ankita :)

[barleygirl]

Just be yourself & don't try so hard. People will respond to you becuz you're genuine!

[Ankita Dwivedi]

i know and just to mention in my mind i never 'begged' people for reviews as you have mentioned before and i never will.

[barleygirl]

I'm sorry for stating that in a harsh way. I'm not always the most tactful reviewer & I've been blocked by many. I hope you didn't miss the good things I also said . . .

[Ankita Dwivedi]

I don't ever miss the good things .And i always welcome honesty so i'm not gonna block you .i , akso think that the friend req. was sent out of mistake the second time.I just didn't like how you misread seeking advice that too from hardly 2-3 peole as begging for reviews .
no grudges :)
Ankita.

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Ankita 🌸

I extend a warm welcome to the Café, our new friend. : )
It is so very nice to meet you and read your generous, deeply moving, meaningful Free Style poem, with its well-placed, intermittent rhyme scheme.
Such passionately direct and truthful writing hits the heart and soul with a certain sorrowful understanding … especially, when expressed so vividly, with a personal feel that exudes sincere truths in the writer's own experiences, revealed and spoken so openly.
How therapeutic this must have been for you, Ankita, to so vibrantly shed and release it all to paper.
Your verse in Hindi is a lovely personal touch, too; though, as you can see below, it does not completely translate to English:

"Do not listen to screaming crosses
Imrato still resonates with me.
Listen, to Un Chekho.
Dar bhel tumro na ho, how will you be yours
Tear us, dar.
Take tears, take it four, let us sing in the song.
Kaal sun will come out, there is smile."

So, it's a bit confusing for most of your readers here. Perhaps, if you would offer your own translation in the Author's Note, it would make your Hindi verse understood to all. Consider breaking some of your longer lines into two shorter ones for a smoother metered read, thus, holding your reader's interest … just some friendly suggestions.

I find this to be a truly important and impacting work … well worth anyone's time to read; your final four lines contain wonderful wisdom for us all to heed and follow, and what a great way to introduce yourself. : )
Thank you ever-so warmly and gratefully for sharing this quite amazing poem, Ankita ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Ankita Dwivedi]

i am so sorry, it completely skipped my mind to provide an understood version of my hindi lines .i will definitely do so from next time .Thank you so much for your wise advice and good words, my friend.
Love, Ankita

[Richard🖌]

I'm always happy to oblige a poetess' needs.
Love is good, isn't it!

[Ankita Dwivedi]

Of course.Us girls have got to stick together.

[Richard🖌]

...Grin!...

[Ankita Dwivedi]

lol..MY BAD
XOXO

[AJNJ]

FantaFabulous.
Can you please explain how a dried bloodstain can be glossy?
Please help

[Ankita Dwivedi]

haha !Friend , glossy is just a word i have used for the potrayal of a striking image .maybe i even meant a bit of irony by describing blood stains as 'glossy'. don't go so literal .hope it was of some help . thank you so much for your review :)

[AJNJ]

Lol. Thanks for the great revelation. Something tells me your poems will have good entertainment value. Pen on. 😁

[Ankita Dwivedi]

oh! it will be my pleasure .revealation was great indeed.XO

[AJNJ]

One more revealation...Why don't you use Hindi script for your Hindi lines ☺? For a more astounding reading experience?

[Ankita Dwivedi]

Where do you live? You understand Hindi! Lol. Actually there were 4 more lines starting Mei. But most people here don't understand Hindi.. Though I will definitely keep your advice in mind, for a more astounding experience. Exclusively for you. XO

[AJNJ]

Great stuff! Add everything! The more astounding the better!

[AJNJ]

We need more bilingual literature here :)

[Ankita Dwivedi]

True that. We do. I will definitely.. .')

[AJNJ]

Good luck to you with that 😊

[Neville]

although this was your first published work here in the Cafe .. it is the second poem I have read of yours this very early mane here in the UK ... another ragged and real, powerful, hard hitting poem that screams out the kind of universal truths and injustices that many either try to ignore or hope goes away .. Well penned my friend

Neville

[Ankita Dwivedi]

well said, people either pretend they live in a whitewashed candy world and tag the people that choose to acknowledge it as sad and angry or they just think it is not their job .It's time we realise it's ours. thank you Neville;)

[Neville]

you are more than welcome my friend.. much more :)