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:

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Some vivid images here!

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

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!

Mary said...

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!

Daydreamertoo said...

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.

Brian Miller said...

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...

Anonymous said...

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.

PattiKen said...

Powerful piece. I feel seething anger behind the words.

Anonymous said...

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.

hedgewitch said...

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.

ayala said...

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

Grace said...

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

Claudia said...

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

marousia said...

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

Sarav said...

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

Unknown said...

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

Kathy Reed said...

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

steveroni said...

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.

Lisa Williams said...

Wonderful imagery! A very powerful poem. Great writing.

Victoria said...

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

Serena said...

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.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Rosemary.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks you very much Audrey.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for commenting Mary.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks PattiKen.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

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.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks ayala--appreciate your compliment.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for commenting Grace!

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad they did--thanks much marousia.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

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!

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

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!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much Lisa :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Victoria, glad you like that feature.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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.

Margaret said...

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!

RMP said...

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.


Jennifer Wagner said...

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.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Anonymous said...

"I cannot blind the stench from my nostrils"

I enjoyed the mixing of sense-language.

Matthew John Davies said...

A glorious mutant that warrants rereading.

Gemma Wiseman said...

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

Anonymous said...

I could feel your heart beating in this poem.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

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!

Serena said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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

Unknown said...

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...

rch said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you did Jack, thanks.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

Like the way you have summed it up, thank you!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Danny.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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.

Jennifer Wagner said...

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

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much hoofprints!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you amidemanila. I appreciate your visit!

Jennifer Wagner said...

It does indeed...thanks rch!

Anonymous said...

Powerfully written!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

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...

Jennifer Wagner said...

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.