It aches in here and our clothes stick to the sweat on our back
It's all so much effort with little reward
No sugar or spice
Still time for powder
We sneak it in
Up and down the hill we travel
Exhausted dirty foul
They may own our body but they cannot dispossess our soul
It waits quietly in the six by six room
We will bide our time with the dignity they removed
Wrap it around our shoulders like a cool blanket on a summers afternoon
Are we still human
Alice croaks
Yes, little cricket
I do believe we are.
Oh good lord... "Alice croaks." This is awful, well-wrought but sooo awful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marian
DeleteOh this hurts my heart, my friend. "Are we still human?...Yes, I do believe we are." Yes, you are. I love the wrapping of dignity around your shoulders and that they cant dispossess your soul. That is a strong spirit, kiddo. I like the starkness of your title, and empathize with how you feel. Hang on. One day at a time. Sometimes one hour.
ReplyDeleteThank you so Sherry - you are part of that cool blanket
DeleteYour dignity remains installed between your ears.No matter what they do to you they can never take your soul. I'm religious so I believe your soul will soar and your torturers will rot suffering in hell.Sorry ...I can get carried away sometimes:)
ReplyDeleteRight with you Cressida.. thank you
DeleteBlow softly and gently upon that tiny ember. Keep it burning.Keep sneaking the powder.
ReplyDeleteThat we will thank you Paul
DeleteThey may own our body but they cannot dispossess our soul...
ReplyDeleteThese are the words of a survivor, such a powerful statement.
Thank you Kerry
DeleteYes. They can take your body but not your soul, not the you that is you. Yes little cricket...I love those closing lines. Yes, you are still human and still worthy.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Toni
DeleteThis is strong, gritty stuff. Thanks for the read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Timoteo
DeleteI cannot keep from thinking of ourbU.S. Senator John McCain when he withstood the totrue while he was a P.O.W. I am glad that he could have revenge against our sadist new leader via his disproving vote for our prospective new national health law.
ReplyDelete..
I'm glad for the association thanks Jim
DeleteLove it! Alice takes it all one step further.
ReplyDeleteThat she does thank you Martin
DeleteHow often in our lives to we feel we are out of control. Your mesmerising account of Alice and you enduring this is heartbreaking as you seek to comfort each other. Your poetry is so graphic and such great depth Jae...wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you most wonderfully Old Egg
DeleteChilling.. but I do love the glimmer of positivity in the end.. the unconquered soul.
ReplyDeleteThank you Thotpurge
DeleteI believe so too, very much so! But oh, how vividly you convey the claustrophobic, smothering feeling of being trafficked. I'm glad you know the dignity, too, cannot really be removed (only superficially).
ReplyDeleteWe hope to keep ourselves intact - thank you kindly Rosemary
DeleteVery powerful and heart wrenching. A very visual poem and words of the survival of ones spirit when everything is taken from them. Great poem. I love the sweet "yes little cricket"
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Marja
DeleteThis is a seriously sad image...you have written it so well...I felt suffocated....may nobody go through this... God bless!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wishes Sreeja
DeleteOh, oh, OH! Every word stings, but especially, for me, the bravery of hope: "We will bide our time with the dignity they removed
ReplyDeleteWrap it around our shoulders like a cool blanket on a summers afternoon" Thank you.
And thank you too Susan
DeleteChilling, just as the issue of human trafficking should be. But its heartbreaking when Alice croaks. Thank God soul cannot be conquered, love this bit of light in spite of all darkness.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sumana
DeleteThe horror and the pain... Than, that powerful reminder in the end. Thank for that. For we need to remember...
ReplyDeleteEven though it's hard yes it must be remembered - thank you Magaly
DeleteAlice's words are wise!
ReplyDelete;) Thanks Annell xo
DeleteThey may own our body but they cannot dispossess our soul....this line really brings home the spirit of survival.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julian
Delete"They may own our body but they cannot dispossess our soul"
ReplyDeleteI love the resilience in that line. On such a subject that is alienating, the words breathe new life.
Great poem, Jae Rose.
Thank you very much Salem
DeleteThanks Sok
ReplyDelete;)
ReplyDeleteThe struggle to retain an identity comes through strongly in your words. Impressive...
ReplyDeleteThanks Nimi
DeleteYour ending was key to having hope. Beautifully done, Jae!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sara
DeleteOh, this poem ends on a high note of hope! Yes, yes, and yes! :)
ReplyDelete:) thanks Magical!
DeleteAwesome blog, i always enjoy & read the post you are sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank for your very good article...!
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Thanks Sok
DeleteStark and chilling. Well done, Jae.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah
Delete