Digital Painting based on a video grab from a video in the public domain

Poetry: At Ease

LGBTQ, Photography and Art, Poetry

His presence, persistent,

I am the curvy wall

under blankets, pressed to black,

but how

these swollen bruises.

He says

I’m his tough little girl

his half-baked boy

his meat

                (c) Rob Goldstein 5/5/1993-02/28/2019

 

 

 

35 thoughts on “Poetry: At Ease”

  1. Hi Rob. Wow, you touched so many with this post. I’d say that means you knocked it out of the park!
    I think this poem is something that has to be felt, rather than understood. Clearly many felt it. And yes, it feels like my own past. You perfectly captured that moment of abuse.
    The image — the glossy look is a cool and unexpected touch — excellent. And red is a great match, an evocative color to go with the poem. (I’m having trouble focusing on it — but that happens with me a lot — that I don’t see what’s right in front of me.)
    Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Teagan. I hope you’re safe on your journey. I’m working on a couple of projects that have me away from the blog for a few days. I love this critique. I guess if it’s art it stands on its own so maybe it’s art. One never knows.

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    1. Is that good or bad, Jan. I’m asking as a writer. Would you put a warning on a poem like this? I really want that kind of feedback because I sometimes don’t have a sense of a work’s emotional content because I’m distanced from it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It is good, Rob. You were able to put such a depth of emotion into a few words and it reached in and grabbed at my heart. No, I would not put a “warning” on a poem like this. Let everyone judge for themselves and have their own reaction without any prompting.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. The first draft of this was hard because to get the words I have to feel the pain. It’s hard to write about this stuff but I think someone has to and guess that person is me. Thank you for reading it and leaving a comment.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You do have to feel it when writing so us readers feel it with you, but I understand how hard it is to do so. I’m thankful you have done that so we can understand. It’s a great gift you have.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you like the image and I guess your reaction to the poem means works. I always have mixed feelings about posting a poem that makes people sad. The image is a frame grab from an old home movie that I enlarged and digitally painted.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. To me, art (in any form) makes someone feel something. It doesn’t have to make them happy. Your poem definitely stirred my emotions, so it was a success, even if it made me sad.

        It’s really cool you did that image from a home movie.

        Liked by 1 person

      1. I can understand why it was a hard poem to write and, yes, it is hard to read but I think you were right to post it. We shouldn’t shy away from painful truths. Keeping quiet only enables the perpetrators to continue – and the rest of us to pretend we didn’t know.

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