Never imagined
~FEAR~
demoralizing
(a young girl’s)
life, FREEDOM
rIpPeD
(as she is)
FORCED into
slave labor,
(raped)
at (only)thirteen
years of age,
(the) atrocities
(she must endure)
malnutrition,
intimidation,
abuse,
~an emotional battle
for FREEDOM~
(and) FORCED into
isolated depression,
(a) guarantee (for)
compliance.
Will an ally
(unveil) a way out
of (this vial)
imprisonment
reclaim
stolen FREEDOM?
~~
I wrote this found/erasure poem, which was taken from the synopsis of an amazing must-read story on human trafficking, Barbed-Wire Butterflies by Jessica Kristie, which is now released (as of 1/23/12) at Barnes&Noble, Amazon.
~~
Shared w/ dVersePoets: OpenLinkNight
Amazing poem. Wonderful image to accompany it.
Wow!! Fantastic Laurie!!
Erasure. That’s what Hannah and I did for our collaboration to e at the Garden tomorrow. Yours is stark and biting, non relenting as befits the topic. How is it posssible that it is so hard to eliminate abuse of Women and children–and even men at times–from our world? Today my head is throbbing with Obama’s inaugeral address and your poem. That may be all I can fit in one day!
It’s almost too much.. cleverly put-together found poem, but the topic I find so difficult to bear… It’s a black stain on the face of humanity. I pray one day it will end. It’s happening not just in/into developing nations, but eg right here in Britain. Not as much, sure, and they get busted with some regularity, but organised criminals, both from Asia and Eastern Europe traffick people either for the sex industry or forced manual labour. I knew a recent case of it where white-collar workers (lawyers, young, naive), were being trafficked to Dubai with the promise of good jobs and then being captive and forced to work for nothing more than their food. Untrue. Thanks for writing on this, I always appreciate it when poets tackle these most difficult and unjust of issues
ugh…i missed this earlier laurie…its heart wrenching…i work with a group that goes into bars in thailand and buys girls out for the night to teach them a new trade…to help them get out of this life they have been sold into…
oh heck laurie…brought tears to my eyes and i’m glad there are people and organisations that help these girls and women to get back into a normal life, a life worth living….
What a sad situation for the young girl and all young girls who have this happen to them. May your poem help open eyes and help in some way. Well written. Amazing that it was an ‘erasure poem.’
and so sad… so glad more and more people are recognizing the problem
freedom for her and all – amen
Amazing work on such a hard topic.
somehow the carving/erasing makes this all the more stark. Powerfully worked, Laurie!
Laurie–this is so strong. Bravo!
i’m speechless. thanks for writing this~
..ah…it doen’t seem a found poetry for thoughts are well arranged & leveled to fall like really connected together as one…if you haven’t said that this is a found poetry i def will not notice that thoughts here are originally scattered…fine job to create a tight, well spunned reality poem…intense & affecting…smiles…
Powerful and important words.
Great job of distilling this tragic life into a powerful poem. I’ve heard of found poems, but not erasure. It is an intriguing method. Peace, Linda
Lori–thank you for adding your voice to this tragedy. Human sex trafficking has been heavy on my heart. Trying to figure out what to say.
Thanks for sharing.
Powerful imagery & words. The way you structured this made it hit even harder.
Oh this issue is so heartbreaking and atrocious. Thanks for speaking out on it.
this just breaks my heart, and makes me wish for a better world, at least for the children. you’d think (hope) that we would already be there, but clearly, we are not. you did a great job with the erasure, your poem really hit home.
So hard and so sad it breaks my heart!
Brutally powerful !!
I hate to imagine, but unfortunately I can. Very strong poem about such a sad topic.
OMG
Powerful poem, The life and things we take for granted when things like this go on all over the world. A voice to open the eyes of many.
A novel prompt for poetry, not that there should ever be any limits on where poets find their inspiration. This and Jess Christie’s story should be much closer to the media’s front line, but, as Luke hinted, there are reasons why it isn’t – organised crime being one of them – well written and a brave choice of subject, Laurie.
Wow. The final words are so incredibly profound. Your whole poem is intense.
Laurie, this is so chilling. It’s hard to imagine….
Wow – a powerful write!
Beautifully crafted erasure. Stunning reality within your woven words. Love this…
-Eva
Powerful write!
Wow, this is powerful, and it makes me want to check out the book as well. Excellent piece, Laurie, even though it’s a difficult subject to fully grasp. When I let myself really ponder the atrocities occurring even in this very moment, my heart becomes heavy, and I feel powerless. But we need to talk about it, keep shedding light so that our heaviness turns into action. Thank you!
stunning! I find “found” poetry to be an interesting and challenging write. you have done a suburb job at transforming this text without stealing away its original purpose.
A horrible, unimaginable life…thank God for those who bring it to light, forcing the world to look at it, pay attentions, (and hopefully) do something!
Wonderful write, Laurie.
this is a very sad but true fact and something i really hope the world (including me) can do something about..
great write..
A fascinating technique, Laurie. I couldn’t click “like” for the story was too disturbing.
amazing piece Laurie. Have been trying to clear up my reading list so I can pick Jess’s book up, which is just outstanding for an author to write a book and donate the entire proceeds to such a worthy cause. You’re poem is amazing in how you capture the overall sense of fear and torment of those enslaved. Great post. Thanks
Interesting and precious..
Such a sad, sad situation. I wish more could be done for these girls. A powerful write.
BTW Erasure poems are one of my favourite forms. Nice flow here.
You vividly convey what is reality for millions of women across the globe. I am currently reading “Half The Sky” by Kristoff and WuDunn. I highly recommend it.
Strong stuff, and really interesting use of brackets and capitals too – which made me want to read it more carefully and more than once.
…and it can all happen so FAST! Very disturbing…