Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Poetry Bus Ripped from the Headlines


Niamh is the driver this week & has given us a very interesting task – to write a poem based on a smallish no-account newspaper article. Well, I didn't really comply with the directions, but I hope she'll let me lash myself to the roof of the bus anyway! The story I picked isn't small exactly – although if we think in international terms it might be. You can read the article here, but the gist of it is that a thirty-something young woman has been arrested for pretending to be a 14 year old boy in order to "lure" teenage girls into a sexual relationship. After reading a few other articles I'm not sure about her culpability – perhaps the teenage girl wasn't as in the dark as she is being portrayed. I don't know, really, but this story seems to have a great many sides, some of which remind me of Salem, a bit. Anyway, here's what came out of my head after I put the article in it.



Incomplete

It's lies & intrigue
If they only knew
That black hole
In my heart

It's complicated
This illicit or innocent
Longing for
Relationship

It's weary-making
Which mask is
More true
Less me

It's my soul
Stripped bare
My lightless heart
Your judgment

13 comments:

  1. When I first saw that picture I thought to myself, what a sad looking woman. That seems to be the face of someone that is carrying a lot of pain. Your poem is wonderful and sympathetic without taking sides.

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  2. Insightful words. It's sad that someone's pain leads them to do something so desperate. Ouch all the way around.

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  3. There is something haunting in her eyes that I think your poem captures in words. Profound.

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  4. I want to say that I like that poem, but it's so dark ... hmm, I'll say I appreciate its dark beauty. You always capture the twists and turns of emotions so well.

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  5. what a sad story and a stirring poem. and yes, she does look like she's carrying a lot of pain. want to read and reread this one. your poem i mean.

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  6. Good work!

    I like the black hole...and the lightless heart. Good, good, good.

    x

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  7. The best poetry goes places where the rest of us hesitate to tread and this is the best poetry.

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  8. Yikes! It's easy to make judgments, but this is really sad, isn't it? A cry for help? Great way you got inside her head, Bug, and really good title.

    Kat

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  9. Really fine work, complex and challenging.
    Good one, and as with Jessica, I'll be back to re-read.

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  10. Excellent poem. It's so hard to know what really goes on - so easy to trust what we're told and to judge people on nothing at all. I hope she finds her peace.

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Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear what you have to say!

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