gary_dean
  Bronze Member

I think you captured a significant moment here. I remember one that was staggering, personally, in it's power and pain. After that a few other moments of change that came easier, having endured the first. They separate life into distinct chapters, old life to new. I was moved by your poem. Well done. more »

Thank you. I appreciate your comment very much.

Thank you for noticing. It worked well for emphasizing the matter-of-fact attitude to their hideous game. I appreciate your comment so much.

Nice work, Susan. A sweet poem.

True, I've felt this repetition myself. In self defense I trained myself to recognize that the pull is my amygdala and pituitary gland pumping hormones. I can stop the process by focusing on her character...mostly. more »

I have a rose bush in my garden that holds a bloom or two into snow season every year. It's my favorite. This poem celebrates these later years, the years with wisdom, ignored by youth. If you're lucky enough to make it here, live well. Great poem. more »

I absolutely agree. Those people in Fowlerville were well established in their community, not on the fringe, If silence implies consent, I will not be silent.

it's a dirty little secret that nobody speaks about, so it lives on in the shadows.

I knew it would be hard to read, but I finally knew it was time to shine a light on that culture. Real people doing really awful stuff, in rural America. It will not be unwritten. Thanks for reading and commenting. It's how we get past the horror and move toward change I hope. Stay well. more »

I know her from her novel, "The Mill On The Floss" Every time I come across one of Their poems, I smile.

I know this determination to break free from a painful place. It is hard to trust, easy to doubt, and then there is," the devil you know: But is the most freeing decision and for myself I will end my life in a better place than it began. Kudos for knowing what matters. more »

I have felt this determination to step away from the destructive place; ready to build something more positive. But it is so hard to break the chains, and :the devil you know". But I will end my life in a better place than it began. It was so worth the struggle to break free. more »

A wholly oppressive subject, I may tend to avoid looking directly at it, like the Sun. Like a child born genetically without limbs... gut wrenching and we are powerless to change the outcome. Yet there are armies of people who study causes or tend to the stricken. Most people can't name one, but can name every quarterback in the NFL. Did Madison Avenue set all our priorities? more »

My comment should read, " feel damp & wearied..." but I can't edit it.

This poem stays true to it's melancholy to the end. "...a shy sun cowers..." my favorite line. The author moves us along quickly to the loss, undoubtably the source of the sadness that makes me fell damp wearied. A good write. more »