I Will No Longer Wear Your Coat
For all victims of sexual abuse59 total reviews
Comment from luna
You go, Jan. Excellent write. I love the words to your poem and the way you formatted it. The author's notes were priceless. We are so lucky to have you as a crusader for this issue. Thank you for posting this and sharing.
Love,
Jen *smile*
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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You go, Jan. Excellent write. I love the words to your poem and the way you formatted it. The author's notes were priceless. We are so lucky to have you as a crusader for this issue. Thank you for posting this and sharing.
Love,
Jen *smile*
Comment Written 10-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, Luna. this is my victory poem. love, jan
Comment from Nicky B
The importance of this piece and the subsequent liner notes below cannot and should not be underestimated in their value. My own younger sister was sexually abused by my fathers brother. At the time he was around our family to help because my dad was dying of cancer. When my father finally passed he still continued the abuse and it wasn't until my sister said no to him at the age of twelve that it stopped. We never understood why our Uncle didn't return to our home there after, until my sister purged the secret that she had been holding onto after all those years. She was about 19 by then. To make matters worse was that this rock spider worked at the local primary school (which my sister attended) as a maintenance man. One day I was supposed to pick her up from school but for some reason the wires got crossed and I didn't perform the task. This vile creature using his uncle's status took advantage of the situation and picked up my sister from the teacher that had been looking after her and raped her in the storeroom. I have to live with that.
My sister is my biggest hero. She has struggled terribly of course but she is imbued with a powerful empathy for other people who find themselves on the edge of despair. I will make sure she reads this powerful poem when she gets home tonight. Suffering alone is debilitating, but suffering together can bring the light of strength to an otherwise darkened soul. I tip my hat to you for sharing this wonderfully brave poem. Nick.
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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The importance of this piece and the subsequent liner notes below cannot and should not be underestimated in their value. My own younger sister was sexually abused by my fathers brother. At the time he was around our family to help because my dad was dying of cancer. When my father finally passed he still continued the abuse and it wasn't until my sister said no to him at the age of twelve that it stopped. We never understood why our Uncle didn't return to our home there after, until my sister purged the secret that she had been holding onto after all those years. She was about 19 by then. To make matters worse was that this rock spider worked at the local primary school (which my sister attended) as a maintenance man. One day I was supposed to pick her up from school but for some reason the wires got crossed and I didn't perform the task. This vile creature using his uncle's status took advantage of the situation and picked up my sister from the teacher that had been looking after her and raped her in the storeroom. I have to live with that.
My sister is my biggest hero. She has struggled terribly of course but she is imbued with a powerful empathy for other people who find themselves on the edge of despair. I will make sure she reads this powerful poem when she gets home tonight. Suffering alone is debilitating, but suffering together can bring the light of strength to an otherwise darkened soul. I tip my hat to you for sharing this wonderfully brave poem. Nick.
Comment Written 10-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, again, Nicky B. I am very moved by your sister's story. love, jan
Comment from Josipher32
This was a nicely written self improvement poem.
All Kids think it is their fault. I like the wording here:
"Replacing my veil of innocence"
Excellently put-together peice.
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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This was a nicely written self improvement poem.
All Kids think it is their fault. I like the wording here:
"Replacing my veil of innocence"
Excellently put-together peice.
Comment Written 10-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, Josipher32. love, jan
Comment from Norzah
A poem with strong, vivid imageries, defending the victims of sex-abuse
victims against self-incremination and condemnation and lacerating the abusers. 'Your coat of shame' is a very apt description of the guiles, intimidation and threats used ( as per you note), ' layers of varnish )of) lies'
nicely describes the continuous abuse under different pretexts and threats, while God's coat of Grace, Mercy and Love which the poet now wears
sums up her devotion to the cause of helping the abused children and women. Love the poem.
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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A poem with strong, vivid imageries, defending the victims of sex-abuse
victims against self-incremination and condemnation and lacerating the abusers. 'Your coat of shame' is a very apt description of the guiles, intimidation and threats used ( as per you note), ' layers of varnish )of) lies'
nicely describes the continuous abuse under different pretexts and threats, while God's coat of Grace, Mercy and Love which the poet now wears
sums up her devotion to the cause of helping the abused children and women. Love the poem.
Comment Written 10-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, Norzah. this is my victory poem. love, jan
Comment from Artasylum
this was so beautiful it brought tears...the world is not fair and we all know that but some of us are put on the earth to try and even the odds...i believe that you are one of the people...you are an angel...yours, diana xo
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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this was so beautiful it brought tears...the world is not fair and we all know that but some of us are put on the earth to try and even the odds...i believe that you are one of the people...you are an angel...yours, diana xo
Comment Written 10-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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diana, you're not so bad yourself. love, jan
Comment from carolm5415
As a survivor of child sexual abuse I can empathise with the writer. The secretiveness and the blame and the guilt. This is a very good poem.
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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As a survivor of child sexual abuse I can empathise with the writer. The secretiveness and the blame and the guilt. This is a very good poem.
Comment Written 09-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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carolm5415, watch for an essay that will talk about a new book I want to write for and about survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Perhaps you'll consider participating. Thanks. love, jan
Comment from Vladilynn
This Poem was moving too fast and leaves a deep mark to everyones heart. It's really a brave and helpful post for everyone. It's hard to explain for small kids about this matter but if we start to try and make easy for them by discussing what kind of happenings that they've done while they're not with us without mentioning anything that they'll be confuse.
They'll understand it for a certain situation if they're disturbed without pointing it. And can be traced how they act/looks to those conversation.
Thank you for sharing
LYnn ( ^ 0 ^ )}}}
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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This Poem was moving too fast and leaves a deep mark to everyones heart. It's really a brave and helpful post for everyone. It's hard to explain for small kids about this matter but if we start to try and make easy for them by discussing what kind of happenings that they've done while they're not with us without mentioning anything that they'll be confuse.
They'll understand it for a certain situation if they're disturbed without pointing it. And can be traced how they act/looks to those conversation.
Thank you for sharing
LYnn ( ^ 0 ^ )}}}
Comment Written 09-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, Vladilynn. love, jan
Comment from Serenity Riot
dude... this was a power piece. Those first few lines really grabbed me, and I love how you pause the flow with the lines breaks.
what I love the most is the coat metaphor. Coat of shame verses the new/missplaced coat. Coat is surrounding, protective, covering- the perfect metaphor.
it's a horrible thing, childhood abuse. people get all jumpy when we talk about teaching sex education to children, but sex education in elementary school along with proper sexual eddicit- personal protection and what have you along with discussions on when sex is innapropriate (like when daddy's doing it) would help kids out, I think. To come forward. Cause they don't know. They don't know that there is help, that what is being done to them is wrong. We have to tell them.
We can teach our kids about stranger danger without blinking an eye... but when it comes to sex education and what is right and wrong, everyone gets upset and wants to shield thier children. From what? Help?
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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dude... this was a power piece. Those first few lines really grabbed me, and I love how you pause the flow with the lines breaks.
what I love the most is the coat metaphor. Coat of shame verses the new/missplaced coat. Coat is surrounding, protective, covering- the perfect metaphor.
it's a horrible thing, childhood abuse. people get all jumpy when we talk about teaching sex education to children, but sex education in elementary school along with proper sexual eddicit- personal protection and what have you along with discussions on when sex is innapropriate (like when daddy's doing it) would help kids out, I think. To come forward. Cause they don't know. They don't know that there is help, that what is being done to them is wrong. We have to tell them.
We can teach our kids about stranger danger without blinking an eye... but when it comes to sex education and what is right and wrong, everyone gets upset and wants to shield thier children. From what? Help?
Comment Written 09-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! I helped write the Family Life Education program for our school system and had to fight like hell to keep the "real" stuff in. I had not come public with my story yet but I fought just the same. They want to shield their children, I fear, so the children won't know to tell. love, jan
Comment from boberto
My friend, a very brave and thought provoking verse.
I believe you share your experience once before,
and I commended you for it----I commend you again. It took a lot of moxie to put your wounded heart and soul in words
and put them down on paper. God Bless.
boberto
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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My friend, a very brave and thought provoking verse.
I believe you share your experience once before,
and I commended you for it----I commend you again. It took a lot of moxie to put your wounded heart and soul in words
and put them down on paper. God Bless.
boberto
Comment Written 09-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, again, boberto, for always being so supportive. love, jan
Comment from Oatmeal
Rdfrdmom2,
Yes, I have been through a lot in my life but I was never sexually abused by my parents. This is something that I am very grateful for. To me a child is someone to love, to teach and to care for. Sex is NEVER an option. The parents are supposed to shield the children not hurt them.
This poem was well written. The theme was well chosen. The flow was smooth. You did a wonderful job of expressing your thoughts and feelings.
There were no homophones, no spelling or grammatical errors.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Love you,
Oatmeal
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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Rdfrdmom2,
Yes, I have been through a lot in my life but I was never sexually abused by my parents. This is something that I am very grateful for. To me a child is someone to love, to teach and to care for. Sex is NEVER an option. The parents are supposed to shield the children not hurt them.
This poem was well written. The theme was well chosen. The flow was smooth. You did a wonderful job of expressing your thoughts and feelings.
There were no homophones, no spelling or grammatical errors.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Love you,
Oatmeal
Comment Written 09-May-2008
reply by the author on 11-May-2008
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thanks, again, Oatmeal. It is always good to see you, too. this is my victory poem. love, jan
