I'm still shaking from what I've imagined reading this poem. When I recover, I'll have a comment. Your words packed a powerful punch to my gut; however, I'm going to step outside my back door and scream in hopes of feeling better. Keep writing even as you shake my soul and my "innards" with your message.
Suzanna...perfectly written, bravely recalled. The first sentences lay the groundwork for the disgusting story. Oh how many similar stories are out there. Thanks for your vulnerability and your gift of writing.
At least I had the good sense to drive my own car and meet you there…
It sounds like you’re blaming yourself. Most of us believe we’re “pretty good” judges of character…but who would choose to live their lives as skeptics of everyone?
It’s not your fault that society has moved toward superficiality and stereotypes to decide if the presidential candidate has the spirit, intelligence, strength, and energy to lead our country so all can participate in what we like to believe is our democracy.
It’s not your fault that our doctors now give us pills to cure what they believe is an exaggerated description of how our bodies are responding to conditions that have gone undiagnosed for years.
It’s not your fault that we have a collective bias against women in far too many situations that pass through our daily lives.
The guy that seems to have “all the right qualifications” will continue to be admired by men and women everywhere. It’s terrifying and I’m angry about what happened to you.
What’s even more terrifying is the number of us feeling helpless, hopeless and self-doubting because … of so many social expectations about all of the “shoulds” in our lives.
It’s not your fault the guy’s a sociopath and there are variations of that behavior all around us.
Ugh. Well-told. Felt as if I were there with you. Too many of us have similar stories. Hope that today we are raising people to respect others more - some days I’m optimistic about that, others not so much.
This is very hard to read, but essential reading, just the same. There's something about poetry that, when it's used well to deliver a message, often turns its delivery into a knock-out, frequently stronger than prose could have.
I'm still shaking from what I've imagined reading this poem. When I recover, I'll have a comment. Your words packed a powerful punch to my gut; however, I'm going to step outside my back door and scream in hopes of feeling better. Keep writing even as you shake my soul and my "innards" with your message.
Suzanna...perfectly written, bravely recalled. The first sentences lay the groundwork for the disgusting story. Oh how many similar stories are out there. Thanks for your vulnerability and your gift of writing.
At least I had the good sense to drive my own car and meet you there…
It sounds like you’re blaming yourself. Most of us believe we’re “pretty good” judges of character…but who would choose to live their lives as skeptics of everyone?
It’s not your fault that society has moved toward superficiality and stereotypes to decide if the presidential candidate has the spirit, intelligence, strength, and energy to lead our country so all can participate in what we like to believe is our democracy.
It’s not your fault that our doctors now give us pills to cure what they believe is an exaggerated description of how our bodies are responding to conditions that have gone undiagnosed for years.
It’s not your fault that we have a collective bias against women in far too many situations that pass through our daily lives.
The guy that seems to have “all the right qualifications” will continue to be admired by men and women everywhere. It’s terrifying and I’m angry about what happened to you.
What’s even more terrifying is the number of us feeling helpless, hopeless and self-doubting because … of so many social expectations about all of the “shoulds” in our lives.
It’s not your fault the guy’s a sociopath and there are variations of that behavior all around us.
Ugh. Well-told. Felt as if I were there with you. Too many of us have similar stories. Hope that today we are raising people to respect others more - some days I’m optimistic about that, others not so much.
This is very hard to read, but essential reading, just the same. There's something about poetry that, when it's used well to deliver a message, often turns its delivery into a knock-out, frequently stronger than prose could have.
Oh, Suzanna. What a powerful story. Thank you for your vulnerability.
Oh, Suzanna. What a powerful story. Thank you for your vulnerability.
so powerful. chilling. dynamic contrasts. so multi-layered. brilliant.
Wow.
I hope this isn’t based in personal experience but either way it’s been someone’s and for that, this is horrible, reprehensible and I’m sorry