Scene of the Crime
Name:
Evidence:
daughter of a barmaid and a factory worker
abandoned by one and brainwashed by another
six is old enough to fend for yourself; mothers are for sissies
tape recordings leave little room for editing without skillz
sister of a bonded brother and caretaker of six charges
teasing punching teasing punching hurling objects breed bonds
dirty diapers stinking in wet pails, hot dogs and mac & cheese
calls on the dot from the bar they’ll be home in a little while
friend and lover of assorted white trash, lonely freaks, stalkers, and abusers/exploiters
boys trying to steal kisses respond with punches when denied
kids of violent drunks get drunk and violent
victims seek out victims for this, that, and the other
grandchild in patchwork cottage at the bottom of the hill
second home, surrogate mother, symbiosis
chores for grub, gentle comb through matted hair
Lawrence Welk, Hawaii 5-0, and Mannix
fair game for kin with predatory proclivities
manifestation ghosted by everyone but their targets
but oh the legends of their violations laughed
from oblivious cruel lips
Cause of Death:
Mortal twisting at core
Corpse Animators:
see poems
Sarah is today’s host at d’Verse. Sarah says:
So feel free to give me a detailed description of what you see in the mirror, or to use that as a springboard to head off in an unexpected direction. Give me a portrait of yourself as an extended metaphor – maybe you see yourself as a cat, or a jar of pickles. Tell me about an incident that sums you up, or made you wonder about your identity. Hog the limelight for a moment or two. Stand up on the bar and let’s have a look at you.
Tao Talk 
This is a brilliant way of describing a harsh childhood. I count myself privileged… yours was a tough one.
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Thanks, Bjorn.
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Within all of these words…..abandoned, brainwashed, punching, teasing, hurling, stinking wet pails, stalkers, abusers, violent drunks etc, are these words
” gentle comb through matted hair” .
In my reading, these words are the kindness one needs to live and love through whatever life throws at us. These words have a special place here.
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❤ Thank you, Lillian. One act of kindness can make all of the difference.
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All those facets, all working to make you. I wanted to reach through the screen and hug that child. I thought about the poem you wrote about your son a few weeks ago – what a different experience you have given him.
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❤ Thank you, Sarah, yes.
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Wow, Lisa, that was different. I too wanted to reach into the poem and hug that child. I could feel the ‘teasing punching teasing punching hurling objects’ and smell the ‘dirty diapers stinking in wet pails’. These lines made me shiver:
‘fair game for kin with predatory proclivities
manifestation ghosted by everyone but their targets
but oh the legends of their violations laughed
from oblivious cruel lips’.
You came out of it so beautiful and loving, and I’m so pleased I know you, albeit virtually. 😉
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❤ Kim, thank you. Writing the poem, I understand the truth of it and am ok with it. I appreciate your kind words and am pleased to know you also, through your poems.
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Lots of hugs and warm prayers for you!
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Thank you, I will take any prayers offered with gratitude.
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Oh my aching heart this is poignant. I admire the honesty that went into writing this poem, Lisa. You are a fighter! 💝
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❤ Thank you, Sanaa.
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Oh, sister, I, too, want to just wrap a sheltering, comforting arm around this child. One wonders, sometimes, how things (at least occasionally) work out in the end.
Very impressive selfie. L.
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Ron, thank you very much. Yes, it is miraculous I survived even as damaged as I remain.
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Oh, Lisa. If I could, I would give you a great big hug. This is so saddening to read, it brought tears to my eyes. The poignancy and pain in this alone… I too want to hug the child inside, the child in this poem, and any child who goes through this. I’m sending you much love, and I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts. ❤
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Lucy, thank you very much. There are too many to count that have been through these things. It’s a legacy very difficult to shake loose from.
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I believe the woman you see in the mirror has overcome the harshest of childhoods to become a loving and caring mother. Your mirror must show you a brave woman!
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❤ Thank you, Beverly. I've survived their best efforts, that's true!
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Tough truth here Lisa. Moving!
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Thank you much, Rob. I know you can relate to some tough truths from your childhood as well.
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Heartbreaking!
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Your story is sad to hear with all you have been through growing up. I am glad to see from your bio and poetry that you have come into a better place in life!
Well done Lisa,
Dwight
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Dwight, that childhood did twist me at my core and due diligence in processing so much of it has allowed me a much better quality of living than during those times. The core remains damaged but is shored up with excellent supports which I consider best-case scenario. Thank you for your comment.
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So glad you are able to move beyond that cycle!
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Overcoming all odds .. the mark of strength, perseverance, empathy .. I am in awe.
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❤ Helen you have made my night with your comment. Thank you.
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Why are the last few lines always the best?
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🙂 Thanks Reena
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O. WOW. WOW. Apart from being so so so creative, this poem carried your realities, alongside them , your strength. I want to extend my arms to that child. No words will ever be enough. ❤
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❤ Many thanks
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So powerful, Lisa. All the words are punches that have left you stronger, define you. You hit me with: Lawrence Welk, Hawaii 5-0, and Mannix….sounds of my childhood and it’s like deja vu.
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Thank you, Sascha. I can still describe the details of that room/sanctuary in detail.
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This was very painful for me to read, as a mother. and as a human being. I am so sorry for what you suffered as a child. Thank you for sharing your journey, and I wish you all the healing energy I can offer.
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❤ Ingrid, thank you very much.
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Really appreciate your stark honesty … people need to know that too many families are like this! So sorry you drew the short straw but it’s made you who you are today.
Kind caring gentle honest direct resilient with a powerfully strong core. Your kids are blessed you turned all this around 🙂
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❤ Thank you very much. Yes, too many families are like this 😦
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yes and those with closer families have no concept so good to educate them Lisa!
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Lisa I felt my anxiety rising with each word. Everything felt so raw and I wanted to reach out to you. Oh the horrors of what adults can inflict on children. The patchwork cottage and the gentle comb touched my heart and I relaxed with you. This was an amazing poem/story ☺️💕🥰❤️
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❤ Thank you, Christine.
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🥰
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You have been through just about every mill there is and come out of it laughing. You must be a very special person 🙂
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Jane thanks, a special kind of crazy 😉
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Crazy with sense 🙂
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There is no bright side to this, besides hindsight and having survived. This must have given you some insight when dealing with youth through your job.
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You’re right on every part of this. Although I didn’t realize it at the time I think that’s why I chose the job I did, and it helped me immensely in connecting with kids that everyone else had simply written off as lost causes. I pissed off a lot of parents along the way as well.
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That I believe! 🙂
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I agree. That second stanza was a heart wrencher and pulled us into the sadness of the rest of the poem. If time-travel ever becomes possible, you are going to have a room full of saviors, just from dVerse poets. I’ll be there, too. One line dull me didn’t understand was: tape recordings leave little room for editing without skillz. Does this allude to the police report or the child? Sorry…I can’t stand not to know. Good work, Lisa…xoox
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My dad had mental health issues and part of it was paranoia, persecution complex, agoraphobia, maybe OCD, and other things. In order to keep a grip on reality (seen in retrospect) he had these little rules or beliefs that he passed down to us kids through repetition. When you’ve got these “tape recordings” thrown at you but you’re just a kid, you don’t have a clue what to do with that information. You take it in and believe that’s how the world works. Maybe for a mentally ill person it works that way but it’s not functional when you get out into school, jobs, social settings, etc. Sorry for lengthy explanation it’s the best I can do to explain it. I love the idea of a cohort of protectors traveling back to save that child ❤ Thank You, Judy.
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I appreciate the lengthy explanation. Thanks for solving my curiosity. You seem to have come so far in leaving these things behind you. Good for you!!!
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Judy, I’m where I’m at now only with God’s grace and the help of very special “angels with skin.” Thank you for your kind thoughts.
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I am so sorry for all your hurt and pain, especially as experienced by a child. You are a true survivor.
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Sara, thank you. I lived to tell the story, very true. Sometimes I wonder how.
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I am glad you survived.
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