Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Abuse of Power, Power of Abuse


Leave me to solve riddles,
in the dark ruminations

puzzling with pieces
slipping through my fingers.

They have long legs and,
until now, ran faster than I could;

but I have sprouted legs of my own, and

the caramel is dripping
from your polluted apple

revealing a leprous underbelly
and the twists of your myths.

Since released
I write my farewell to arms,

though I know it will not pierce your heart.

I have learned the impossible
remain impossible, impervious,

and must rule

without question,
without consequence.

I write to pierce my own
and release your venom

to drip, to flow,
to collect in puddles at my feet.

While ash and toxicity
paint bleak the petrified forest

where once hearts of
children tried to play,

before you caught them, taught them,
deftly smothered them in your decay.

I have escaped, but intermittently I
perchance upon your minions,

try as I may, when near,
I cannot blind the stench from my nostrils

from the blood
on their hands.

My blood

mind you, cries out for justice,
and like Abel’s,

is heard.


Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

66 comments:

  1. the caramel is dripping
    from your polluted apple

    revealing a leprous underbelly
    and the twists of your myths.

    There is a wonderful sense of imagery throughout--just a great write!

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  2. Intensity of feeling in this poem is palpable. These words

    "I write to pierce my own
    and release your venom


    to drip, to flow,
    to collect in puddles at my feet"

    are so strong, so intense!

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  3. Phew.... this doesn't mince any words nor hold any punches. It packs a powerful message in each line. There is a seething anger and yet, a healing happening too. A taking back of power which was stolen and of determination that what has happened will never be allowed to happen again. This is a ... wow... of a poem.

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    1. I'm glad my expressions came through. I always value your thoughts--thank you for popping over to comment.

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  4. where once hearts of
    children tried to play,

    before you caught them, taught them,
    deftly smothered them in your decay

    wow what an intense part there...so much emotion in this as well...vivid and straight at it, just the way i like it...smiles...

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    1. Glad you do! Thanks so much Brian, your comments are always encouraging.

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  5. I like the way this poem opens in a way that introduces the rest, and somehow I can relate to the first half especially very well. Strong stuff, well written.

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    1. Thank you very much. I'm glad it made a connection with you--thanks for commenting.

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  6. Powerful piece. I feel seething anger behind the words.

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  7. wow..that was intense, i'm in awe of the way you treat words..bringing out their depths and power for poetic expression. awesome,just awesome.

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    1. I'm honored by that moonlitpoetic! I prize your compliment--thanks much!

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  8. A strong, harsh, still somehow lyrical poem, as if beauty is a form of defiance, and therefore even more important.The last lines are such an affirmative ending of a horrific cycle full of wrongs, yet the anger in it brings the circle closed, and the healing can begin when you realize those words are true.

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    1. Like the way you put that "as if beauty is a form of defiance, and therefore even more important." Really enjoyed your thoughtful response to this piece hedge--thank you very much.

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  9. before you caught them, taught them,
    deftly smothered them in your decay....
    intense piece ! nicely penned !

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  10. That last 4 lines is intense and full of emotions, anger and passion ~ Whew ~

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  11. and like abel's is heard...tight and intense emotions and vivid images...abuse of power is a terrible thing and good when it doesn't go unnoticed

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    1. Thanks for reading Claudia...always appreciate your words.

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  12. Vivid imagery - these tow lines really struck me
    "the caramel is dripping
    from your polluted apple"

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  13. Quite intense--such imagery, I feel pulled and pierced myself--love the power of this, someone claiming their own.

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    1. So glad you connected with that "reclaiming" element Sara. I always appreciate your thoughts--thanks for sharing them!

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  14. Excellent write. Love the passion and the incredible imagery choices here. So many great lines as well. polluted apple-love that, pierce my own/release your venom-very cool, while ash and toxicity/paint bleak the petrified forest-love that- and the ending, is perfect. Thanks

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    1. Thanks Fred. I really appreciate your evaluation of the piece--your compliments mean a lot. I'm glad you connected with the imagery. It's my main style of writing and it's a relief when it is well-received!

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  15. Ahh...sounds familiar...lessons learned the hard way....

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    1. I appreciate that you can relate kkkkaty, thanks for commenting.

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  16. Your words, quoted all through the comments are strikingly familiar to me, as from one who has broken away, run away, gotten out of the prison yard.

    Intense clear through, each word knowing its job. What a GOOD read, gives hope to some? Maybe. Can only pray so. You did YOUR work, now God is in charge.

    I the end, Justice WILL prevail. If I do not judge...it leaves me FREE to BE!

    PEACE!
    Steve E

    HEY! Lots of my FAVORITE PEEPS are commenting here. I must be "blinded by some stench" to have missed you. Great writing.

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    1. Thanks Steve--really glad you came by! Hope it may give hope to some, as you say...I like that thought. Like how you have summed up my piece--really value your comprehension of it. Much appreciated!

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  17. Wonderful imagery! A very powerful poem. Great writing.

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  18. So thought-provoking. I like how you tie in the story of Cain and Abel at the end.

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  19. I feel this very deeply, you're the voice speaking for my pain, at what I barely escaped yet sometimes still not quite believing it was all as bad as I thought... you remind me my heart was right all along. Powerful and very moving.

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    1. It's an honor to me that this piece contained the words for your pain. Love how you put that: "my heart was right all along." Not sure you realize how true this rings for me, but your words are an echo of the key that began this write. Thanks very much Serena.

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  20. to drip, to flow,
    to collect in puddles at my feet.

    I'm not sure if this is truly resolved... sounds like so much anger still. But the road to healing is one step at a time. Certainly hope this isn't all within YOU and is partially a piece of fiction... but I know abuse exists - I've witnessed it a few times. Either way, powerful!

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    1. Margaret, thanks very much for your comment. There are all sorts of abuses of power, as you know, and of course resolution is a process. This is a personal journey piece written to bleed out the emotion with imagery and metaphor--though my hope is that it might contain elements which resonate with others on their journey, whatever it may be.

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  21. such a vivid picture you paint..."the caramel is dripping / from your polluted apple." "I cannot blind the stench from my nostrils // from the blood / on their hands. // My blood"

    a very intense piece.


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    1. Thanks RMP, really appreciate your stopping by and commenting on it.

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  22. "I cannot blind the stench from my nostrils"

    I enjoyed the mixing of sense-language.

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  23. A glorious mutant that warrants rereading.

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    1. It is a mutant isn't it? I saw it that way too. Glad you found it to be one to revisit.

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  24. Such a storm of sensual, venomous images determined never to be resurrected again! They have had their day! But what a day!

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  25. I could feel your heart beating in this poem.

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  26. Fantastic writing! So true, of those people who "must rule" and "remain impervious". I know a couple of them! I read this as a warrior cry of ascending power, as the narrator shakes off the oppression and reclaims her power. Awesome piece!

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    1. I love the way you read this Sherry! "as a warrior cry of ascending power"...this was definitely my posture in the write. Thank you very much--your comments always encourage me.

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  27. You got me all riled up... such a powerful poem with awesome images. I especially liked "the caramel is dripping /from your polluted apple. The feeling in this poem is rampant and stimulating. Great job.

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    1. Serena- thank you very much. I so appreciate your compliments on this piece. Glad you "felt" it.

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  28. Yes, oh yes. And the image of caramel dripping from a polluted apple is just... perfect.

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  29. I feel intensity and pain that has contaminated your blood as in..

    "release your venom

    to drip, to flow,
    to collect in puddles at my feet."


    Such pain and release...

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  30. Feels good to get that venom out doesn't it, very powerful write!

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  31. Powerfully written!

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  32. Hey, awesome poem, using it for an analysis in my Yr12 lit class, just wondering, to who do I credit and reference the poem to...

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    1. Thanks for your compliment Stacey! You would credit me the author of the poem and reference this website. I'd love to read your analysis! My email address is on my profile if you want to share it with me.

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Thank you for your thoughts!