Glimpses

Monday, April 9, 2012

H ~ He Said it With His Hands













He Said it With His Hands~

Summer was hot,

scorched in memories

of kisses in the shade

in back of

Granny's place

where lemons hung

like swollen testicles

from sagging branches

of an ancient tree.

Love and pain met

became one

breath,

one measure

of a song that plays

where fingertips

dance,

and hearts remember.

"Love compliments,

it doesn't critisiZe"

She said it

with deliberation

as though they

were the most

important words

ever heard.

Draped them over

a bruised shoulder

and deaf ears

with tears in her eyes.

He loved her.

Confused it with

fingers

that found their way

around her neck

to choke out

truth he didn't want

to hear.

He needed her.

With rules

that would ensure

she never left

.... alive.

When he wanted her.

He said it with his hands.

2000-04-30 ©k~





This post is part of the
A-Z Challenge 2012.

34 comments:

  1. I. Not sure I can ever look at a lemon tree the same again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ugh. This is a great description of an abuser's mind. They are so screwed up that they do it out of love. Great write.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rachel. Sometimes understanding allows movement.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Twice? When I do that it means it caught my attention :-) Thank you Lizy.

      Delete
  4. Oh wow, what a morbid but wonderful twist at the end there. A story, and a poem, all in one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gentle smile Some of my favorites are just like that. Thank you Matthew for peeking in and leaving your prints on my page :-)

      Delete
  5. Powerful and well written! Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Abuse is ugly...testicles hanging on lemon tree branches is ugly...your desire to understand or explain the thinking, however, is quite amazing. I also read it twice because I want to know the whys of abuse. Somehow, I feel if we know why, we can avoid being its victim.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you are right about that Jo, this particular poem was a reflection. In order to help those who have been, or are being abused, I had to understand the psyche behind it, but it is ugly on all sides. It is also an unfortunate part of reality for far too many people.

      Delete
  7. Haunting and disturbing, and oh so sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Goddess for stopping by my page, and taking in words that express a difficult situation.

      Delete
  8. I like the style and the flow.
    Liked it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you N :-) If we keep this up all of us individual letters will have a colony of alphabetical people ;-)

      k~

      Delete
  9. This was disturbing as all abuse is. Very well written and deeply poignant.


    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kathy... it is not a topic for the faint at heart.

      Delete
  10. Abuse is such an ugly thing-- and it is frighteningly unpredictable as was your ending. You captured this well. You have a brilliant mind!

    Cheers, Jenn
    http://www.wine-n-chat.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jenn... it is actually pretty predictable, which is an even uglier thing.

      Delete
  11. Wow. You have such a broad range of ability, K! You so often express beauty and you do it extraordinarily well. And then this. Dark and disturbing, yet delivered perfectly. I'm thoroughly impressed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are such a strong writer Beth, that the compliment you gave me tonight means a great deal. Thank you for the encouragement and continued participation in my growth with words.

      Delete
  12. This got me right in, then surprised me. (Much like the fellow in the poem, perhaps.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, that would be the case most often... a surprise, or at least a hoped unexpected circumstance. Thank you for reading Rosemary

      Delete
  13. Love the use of a lemon tree. Sour, bitter, like the minds beneath them. No sugar to make the ade.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smiles It transfers nicely that way. Thank you for reading and responding.

      Delete
  14. I suppose the lemons hanging like testicles from the branches was my first clue this was not going to be all rainbows and unicorns. A most excellent visual I plan to steal. Very haunting and dark by the end. Loved this:

    Draped them over

    a bruised shoulder

    and deaf ears

    with tears in her eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When emotions are in play, it is not always "happily ever after" but there will usually be a lesson or three to gather from the journey. Thank you for reading and responding Clair

      Delete
  15. Excellent powerful write! (I will always think of lemons differently now!)

    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. grinZ This one has a tendency to do that to people looks innocently up at the tree for the life of me, I just cannot figure out why. Seriously thank you I appreciate the time it took for you to visit and respond.

      Delete

I appreciate your comments, and constructive criticism is welcome!

“To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there.”

- Richard Bach

Blog Awards Received

Blog Awards Received