Dark Rooms

Gold cherry

By Jane Hyphen

Mon, 03 Jun 2019
  • 3428 reads
11 comments
 

 

By the time she realised

It was too late

The label stitched, double

Stitches deep inside

How the needle stabbed

For all the years

Ahead to lay upon a rack

His signature hidden

Too late, since every door

Slammed quietly

Inside her numb self-sense

All chambered now

Leaving her with just enough

For her routine

As dull images in dark rooms

Filter to clarity

Behind her plastered stud walls

They glare bright

Attempt to burn what’s left of her

Some thread remained

Enough to stitch into her lips

A stinging lock

In time tattered, her voice

Speaks frayed words

Describes what’s on the pictures

To shaking heads

‘Why didn’t you say?’ is all

That’s offered now

They assume that she could breath

Through choking shame

 

 

Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Powerful and disturbing writing.

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks Philip. People are so often dismissed because they didn't speak up about abusive experiences but what happens inside their heads must be so complex, how can any of us really understand.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

 it made me hurt in sympathy, reading. The st of stabbing and stitching, the idea of someone writing their name inside you. "Every door slammed quietly/inside" how you shut yourself in so deep trying to escape feeling

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Di, thanks for your comment. I think in the face of unexpected trauma people must burrow into their own consciousness and then if the only way out is to share that experience but shame prevents you then you are really stuck in a painful place.

 

Submitted by celticman on

shame does shut us up. Bullies know the power of shame, shame. 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Well said celticman. They know the power of it but they don't feel it themselves, it's a toxic combination.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

' Why didn't you say?'

This powerful piece explains exactly why.

It's our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day 

Please share/retweet if you enjoyed it too.

 

Picture Credit: https://tinyurl.com/y4avm4v3

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you for pick of the day xx

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I had read this and wanted to wait and understand more clearly when there were comments. But what I found powerful were the phrases 'A stinging lock In time tattered, her voice speaks frayed words', but especially that last phrase. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks for your comment Rhiannon. An experience which even the thought of stings you time and time again but be so hard to face and process, it must be like a padlock you carry around with you. I wonder sometimes if people are dismissive simply because they feel uncomfortable about other people's pain. 

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

A hurt to read, but well worth it. Such is the power of your words, Jane.