Friday, April 18, 2008

The Keyhole


I wrote this my first year on the old Poetry Thursday site.


We would peek through the keyhole
when we heard that sound.
The sound of hand meeting skin and bone.
The screams, the pleas
the cries, the moans.
Never ending, never ending.
I could not bear it,
my tiny body shaking with fear
but she, she alone
made me look.
Time and again, while whispering
softly in my ear.
Remember this, remember this
and I would.

18 comments:

Billy said...

Wow! THis reminds me of the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. Chilling and well written!

Beloved Dreamer said...

Thank you Billy. Coming from you I am honored.
It is a memory from my childhood when I was in a very bad place. After all these years I'm still climbing out of a black hole.

love, Melanie-bd

Richard said...

Oh God, made me shudder. Very well written. I'm sorry it's there to be written about. Abuse of power is the great and cardinal sin.

Greyscale Territory said...

What a gentle way of suggesting we learn to abhor abuse by seeing its horrors in action.

Gemma

anthonynorth said...

A chill, a horror, lurking.
Excellently done.

jadey said...

Gave me the chills and goosebumps.

shubd07 said...

The fear and horror is so vivid ...

Specially liked the last two lines.
Their simplicity lends even more depth to the visual impact of the entire poem.

Though my take of "Triumph" is in a much lighter vein ,
(http://la-muse07.blogspot.com/2008/02/shadows-without-doubt.html)
I have written one that is particularly close to my heart. This was not written for any prompt.
(http://la-muse07.blogspot.com/2008/04/life-in-hurry.html)

Fenny said...

blood freezing ... the impact it made ... very well displayed

keith hillman said...

This made me shiver. It can't be an easy thing to write about

christine said...

How horrible for a small child to witness a scene like the one you describe. Through a keyhole is a genius way to describe the scene.

paisley said...

what a terrible set of circumstances in which to grow up... i have been involved in much domestic violence,, but as an adult.. and never with a child to worry about protecting....

Rambler said...

a tale of terror very well told

Cynthia said...

Trembling and very good, especially the warning within.

Rob Kistner said...

Oooohh... gave me chills -- bad memories. I was beaten bare-assed with wooden spoons several times a week from infancy until 7 years old, by my adoptive mother.

Scot said...

good piece ---well written!

wordcrafter said...

This is beautifully expressed... oddly I came across your page today because I cannot get to WritersCafe (there seems to be a problem with the site) while googling for news, or something about it, your blog came up. I am glad; and will be back to read you again.
http://owlnights.blogspot.com/

Amarettogirl said...

riveting, deep and powerful!

rebecca said...

i reread this again and thought i had left a comment, but i guess i never did. well, i'm making sure i'm leaving one now....i thought this very raw and powerful...it seeped fear thru the pores. excellently executed.