“There’s a phrase, “the elephant in the living room”, which purports to describe what it’s like to live with a drug addict, an alcoholic, an abuser. People outside such relationships will sometimes ask, “How could you let such business go on for so many years? Didn’t you see the elephant in the living room?” And it’s so hard for anyone living in a more normal situation to understand the answer that comes closest to the truth; “I’m sorry, but it was there when I moved in. I didn’t know it was an elephant; I thought it was part of the furniture.” There comes an aha-moment for some folks – the lucky ones – when they suddenly recognize the difference.” – Stephen King
“To those who abuse: the sin is yours, the crime is yours, and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpetrators: blaming the victims only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.” – Flora Jessop
a poem for my mother
you say I don’t
remember you
on mother’s day
you tell your friends
i don’t know you exist
*
but I know
and now I remember
how you took
my childhood
like those
*
newborn kittens
stuffed into
a burlap sack
sides pulled up
tied tightly
with a fat length
of cord
*
darkness –
anchored to
that large rock
tossed from the
end of the pier
into the Pacific Ocean
*
over
without a whimper
and you say I don’t remember
you on mother’s day
*
bisous,
léa
Powerful stuff, my sweet. Sending much love and light to you from across the pond xoxo
Merci beaucoup Carly! This is one of the days, some of us would like to have disappear… xoxo
One of my best friends wrote the perfect ‘anti’ mothers day post which I know you’ll get something out of. Here’s the link xoxo http://cauldronsandcupcakes.com/2013/05/11/thoughts-on-mothers-day/
Carly, you knew I needed that link. I wept and fit into more of those “categories” than I would like to think about.
“Les larmes sont les petals du coeur” – Paul Eluard
“Tears are petals of the heart”
Oh, now I’m crying!! Nic always knows what to say. She just gets it. We can cry with each other in different time zones! xoxo
Yes, Nicole does get it. Thanks to you, I won’t miss any more of her wisdom. Merci beaucoup! xxxx
Awesome 🙂 So happy to share! YAY! xoxo
🙂 xxxx
I am in love with your poetry Lea! Way to go on this one–going to check out this cauldron & cupcakes now 🙂
Terah, thank you so much! I’m glad you hear that you are checking out Nicole’s blog. It speaks to so many. I found myself in several of the categories and had to share it. xxx 🙂
Very sad poem Lea, and I feel your pain in your words.
Lots of love
Christine xxx
Like in the VE Day poem, many of us have wounds, some were fatal and hopefully we recover when they were not. Not all scars are visible and with luck and a lot of blood,sweat and tears we move on. There are all kinds of “War”.
Gros bisous,
Lea XxxX
Powerful. I am glad you wrote it~
As you know, it is better out than in…
Très impressionnant, Léa… thanx for sharing! Si tu as some spare time & interest:
http://incaunipocrit.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/maman/
It’s written in Romanian, but Mr Google is quite generous and patient… 🙂
Hugs & bisous, Mélanie
Thank goodness you found words and art to heal.
Julia, one true thing is Art won’t hurt you. Art and the sea have been very therapeutic. Fortunately, both are right here. Thank you.
Hi Léa,
we’ve a similar saying her: he / she behaves like an elephant in a china shop.
The meaning is: one’s manners are so bad, the all relationships / friendships and so on were completely destroyed.
Your saying is also very interesting.
The feelings which come across in this are so powerful, strongly and written in a way that it commanded my attention from the moment I started reading. To be able to write this about your own mother shows self-expression at its best. Brilliant work as always Lea 🙂 x
You are so kind Becky. It took a long time to be able to get the words out. That is where healing is. 🙂 x
I agree, writing is my therapy too. It’s cheaper than a shrink! 🙂 x
Yes. Also many therapists have their clients write as they know it can release much of what is blocked. I had writing groups for those clients who were interested and many found it useful. 🙂 x
It is the best outlet for emotion, I’m not surprised your writing groups were useful for people. Writing is speaking with our fingers 🙂 x
Writing frequently gives voice to those who didn’t have one. 🙂 x
Exactly – couldn’t have said it better 😀 x
Thanks Becky!
Very sad and powerful. xoxo
I had second thoughts about posting it. However, “Mother’s Day” and “Father’s Day” can rub salt in the wounds of those who had a much different experience. I’ve spent years working with many of them and came from that myself. Writing about it can be healing. Sometimes sharing it helps someone else. xoxo
The woman you spoke of in your poem was not a mother, i was there. Your writing are so real. take care. oxoxox
Merci beaucoup Su! You did witness a lot of it. You also had your own demons yet kept some of my memories for me. The ones I had abandoned. xoxoxox