The Shame of IT

The aftermath of sexual abuse.

We take on the blame, we inherit the shame
wallowing in the aftermath of an apocalypse
proportions to take down the most resilient warrior
we fight to the death our right to a voice
trust is crushed beyond reparation
truth is heard in the distance by some
stark realities knock in darkness and light
sleep filled with the incoherent disgraces
seeped into the soul's consciousness'
assaulting all reason and sanity
sanctioned for self destruction
the shame that follows engulfs 
innocence admonishes all evil 
still stuck in the turmoil of self hatred
unjustly bestowed on the naive guiltless 
shame's name branded on the psyche
slammed by the brick wall of inertia
sabotaged lives go astray and unfold
the real shame of it all, its not our onus 
yet, life no longer flows naturally..............

Author's Note

Sexual abuse leaves behind not only scars but guilt and shame, feelings of disgrace, dishonor, and being de-valued, especially in children. Often a person will see themselves as flawed and take on much of the blame and feelings of self doubt. Not to mention the debilitating reactions after disclosure of disbelief and total rejection of the truth.

"Over 90% of sexual offenders are someone the child knows and trusts – a parent or other relative."

Reviews

[John Stussy]

Grammatically, in this line, distant ought to be switched to distance.
"truth is heard in the distant by some"

As far as the content and message go, this was brilliant and potent. A certain section of lines really stood out to me, I re-read them several times just because they caught my eye so. "the shame that follows engulfs / innocence admonishes all evil / still stuck in the turmoil of self hatred / unjustly bestowed on the naive guiltless" I felt that these lines in particular caught the ugliest part of the abuse that's the subject for this piece. That someone would inflict the mental torture upon any human being in a position of the victim that they are the one at fault is horrid, monstrous really. I think the death penalty is too kind for one who inflicts such trauma, and I've been known to be a big fan of the dp. My deepest and most sincere condolences go out to anyone who has suffered in such a way.

[Frieda P]

Thanks John, very sweet and touching review. I'll fix that typo.

[John Stussy]

No problem, thank you for sharing your words Frieda.

[A. V. Madison]

Frieda, I can't tell you how sorry I am that you had to go through this. But still this is a wonderful piece of poetry. I am so sorry that you had to go through this. Now come here and let me hug you.

[Frieda P]

Awh, sweetest review evah! Hugz accepted ;-)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ok but time to write some poetry with hope of a future without guilt and shamefor something you did not do.

[Frieda P]

I think I've done so John, there are certain things that need to be said, and they continue to linger in the psyche, this is me, part of me anyway...took me a long time to even admit that.

[kublakhan27]

It's a rare breed of writer who can jump so effortlessly between life's whimsical pleasures and its sobering tragedies, but you are one of them...devastatingly poignant words...

[Frieda P]

Wow k, that's probably one of the nicest compliments I've ever been paid. Truth be known, there's not much choice, you either go with the flow or you sink to great depths. I have two speeds it seems, go and stop. Not unlike many survivors I've spoken to, you hide behind the truth for so long then it either makes you or breaks you. Ha, a simple thank you would have probably sufficed but that really touched me! Thank you.

[kublakhan27]

:) Maybe through poetry, you can inspire those who are fearful of coming clean, especially younger people, and assure them that they are not alone...stay strong :)

[quinfinn]

delicate and provocative subject....taboo in many circles. you have dealt with this in a comely and irresistible fashion, well written!

[Frieda P]

Yes very taboo, still. One of the main reasons I started to write and purge this stuff is that my therapist (yes, I'm crazy) suggested a site for survivors, they have a creativity section which proved to be extremely cathartic. Thanks quinn. x

[Deron Alexis]

wow this was really well captured the way a world shatters when innocence is stolen the way humans fight for a thing they may never have its tragic

love your new profile pic by the way

[Frieda P]

Thank you muchly Deron.

[luviva]

i reall felt every single word of this poem.
the ones that hit me most is the last paragraph. you feel like an alien without sense of belonging. real good you captured the victim's feeelings so well that that vivid image of it sticks in the reader's mind.
real great piece my friend

[Frieda P]

Thanks so much for such a stunning review luviva, much appreciated.

[KAOlmsted]

A harsh, cruel reality succinctly penned with the voice of experience to strengthen the prose...extremely well done, Frieda. This should go further than the pages of WC...this should go global.

[Frieda P]

Wow kimmer, what a compliment, thanks so much.

[InsanityWriter]

Very true and sad. :( Excellent poem.

[Keith]

Frieda, this is a truly powerful piece of writing. I applaud you in your willingness to speak out. I can only imagine the troubles faced by the victims and I find it heart breaking that any person would have to endure such a violation.

[Frieda P]

I thank you Wes for your kind thoughts.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

That was really intense, but considering the subject matter it should be... it is sad when the victim blames themselves when all of it belongs to the monster who committed it...

seeped into the soul's consciousness'
assaulting all reason and sanity
sanctioned for self destruction
the shame that follows engulfs

that is some deep writing.