“Liberty Molested” (2024)
Voices in the Wilderness
Voices keen for aid in snare of wilderness.
All can hear the plea, but why don’t we respond?
Guilty freezing, dumb; the rest are dumb in bond.
Predatory tyranny imprisons us.
Patriarchal license, waving magic wands.
Voices keen for aid in snare of wilderness.
All can hear the plea, but why don’t we respond?
Fondled, raped, democracy and innocence,
ditched to starve and die, or fade away to naught?
Stand now, fortified; embrace the weeping charred.
Voices keen for aid in snare of wilderness.
All can hear the plea, and yes, we will respond!
Guilty freezing, dumb; the rest will rise in bond!
Laura is today’s host for dVerse’ Meeting The Bar/Form. Today Laura would like us to write The Chaucerian Roundel, which is usually 10 syllables per line as iambic pentameter but I wrote it with 11 syllables per line. I also modified the refrain somewhat in the 3rd stanza.
Notes: The message in the poem can fit any exploitive situation, but two specific situations were in mind as I wrote it.
This morning I heard about a victim allegedly sex trafficked by Epstein to Trump when she was 13. She came forward in 2006 and was ignored by anyone who could take legal steps to hold the adults accountable. A Cornell philosophy professor wrote about her and she was talking with Andy Borowitz today about it.
This poem is also about the Palestinian Genocide going on right now and addressed to those who are guilty, freezing, and dumb with rationalizations on why it’s OK.
Tao Talk 
Well you found some interesting rhymes to hang your political messages on
p.s. the only thing is not all of us agree that those situations you mention fit so I read it broadened to other situations
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Thanks for the prompt and the opportunity to craft a poem to it. Once a poem is released to the wild, it belongs to the world. Thanks again.
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I like how you adapted the meter in your Chaucerian roundel, Lisa, it works well, and the modified refrain in your voices in the wilderness. Let’s hope the voices get the responses they (and we) hope for.
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<3 Thank you so much for taking time with the poem, Kim.
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You’re always welcome, Lisa.
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I like it, and it works for me, we tend to ignore the victims in so many ways….
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Bjorn, thank you. Yes, we do. That’s what patriarchy weaponizes.
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Well done, Lisa! Powerful poem.
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Thank you, Dale. It is one very close to my heart in many ways.
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I believe it.
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“Stand now, fortified; embrace the weeping charred.” That one brave line among all the passionately demanding ones, strengthened my heart to hope that we will stand together as a world united against the atrocities and crimes committed and being committed, one day. Brilliant use of the form, Li.
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Dora, your feedback is very much appreciated. Your strengthened heart makes this poem worthy of being shared <3
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❤ Take care, Lisa.
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Well done, Lisa. This was a real challenging form to master!
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Heck yes, it was. It’s been awhile since challenging myself with writing to a challenging form.
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I opted out on this one! :>)
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buk buk buk buk buka! ;)
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Ha ha….
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p.s. Thank you, Dwight.
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I hope there will finally be justice. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but not one of the women I know who were raped ever reported it. Too many victimized and then not believed and victimized again. (K)
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EXACTLY about victims of sexual assault, including direct experience of it. Honestly, Kerfe, I think all ages and genders don’t report it for one reason or another. There are so many myths surrounding sexual assault that cloud accountability for the perpetrator and any kind of acknowledgement or empathy for those who have been harmed. I’M SICK OF IT.
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I agree–all ages and genders are victimized by power and greed. I’m tired of it too. The collaborators share equal guilt.
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They prosecute with street criminals that way, why not the REAL criminals, that hurt/maim/kill thousands/millions.
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Street criminals lack the connections c to power and money…
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“All can hear the plea, but why don’t we respond?” Excellent challenge here, Lisa.
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A very evocative and poignant poem dear friend.
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Your poem is beautifully written, Lisa
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Robbie, thank you very much.
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The whole thing is so painful and you did a great job highlighting how despicable it is.. Li!
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Cindy thank you for your kind words. <3
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Thanks for your prompt and exquisite example. It invited me to stretch and dig deeper.
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WP, Laura presented us with the prompt. Thank you on the poem. I’m glad it invited you to stretch and dig deeper.
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“Fondled, raped, democracy and innocence,
ditched to starve and die, or fade away to naught?”
Very distopian in mood
much♡love
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Gillena, from my perspective, we exist in it for a large portion of our lives, with brief moments of joy and respite. Thank you for your faithful readership and comment.
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I think you have said it all- eloquently.
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V, thank you.
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This is powerfully raw Lisa – and it needs to be, especially for the two situations you outline – this line encapsulates it perfectly:
‘Fondled, raped, democracy and innocence,
ditched to starve and die, or fade away to naught?’
🖤
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Ange, thank you. I did my best to share my feelings on them here. <3
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🙌 never stop
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<3
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I can see where the pain is coming from.
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<3
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A Chaucerian Roundel sounds an unlikely vehicle for an activist crie de coeur, Li, but the repetitions really drive home the point and you have made excellent use of the form…
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Andrew, your feedback is much appreciated, thank you.
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The keening voices .. the when will it end .. may we never stop asking, shouting, crying, demanding. Your roundel is powerful, powerful.
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Helen, thank you. Totally agree, may we never stop…
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This is very powerful, Li. Your poem speaks truth and you have crafted righteous outrage into an anthem-like cry: “All can hear the plea, and yes, we will respond!”
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Kim, thank you very much for your feedback.
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Impossible to overlook what some of our top elected officials are overlooking in our very top elected official. How can anyone do so? Especially anyone who calls themself religious. It is unconscionable and thank you for bringing this to our attention once again. It can’t be said often enough.
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Judy, thank you for you eloquent comment. I agree, it can’t.
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Excellent Li :-) great writing as always!
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Thanks much, Carol Anne :)
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