Reviews from

Damaged Goods

A Poem

72 total reviews 
Comment from joemass
Excellent
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G'day Curt
Haven't seen your work for a few weeks. This one is strong, powerful and pitiless. A fantastic tale told with brutal honesty.
There are a few place, e.g. verse 3, line 1 where a word (in this case, 'hull') doesn't seem quite right yet but these odd 'soft spots' don't detract too much from the overall picture.
Great job! Would be a 6 if I had any in hand.

Joe

 Comment Written 19-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 19-Apr-2010
    Thanks Joe,
    Chalk the soft spots to the differences in accents. I had a lady tell me that question and long rhymed in her vernacular. I didn't ask where she was from, but I really don't want to know where they talk like that! (lol)
    I really appreciate the thoughts my friend, and apoologize for not being around for awhile, but sometimes life intrudes into my writing.
    Take care my friend,
    Curt
Comment from Rdfrdmom2
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Curt:

this was extremely hard to read because I
know the things children do emotionally and
mentally to survive the evils perpetrated
upon them by people they should have been
able to trust and because I cried for the
child whose innocence was forever destroyed
in those woods. The symbol we use in H-E-A-R-T
is sterling silver heart with seraded side to
show that while victims may heal from their
abuse (whether as children or adults) there
will always be scars. Excellent poem. I will
bookmark it so I can return to it again. love,
jan

 Comment Written 19-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 19-Apr-2010
    Thank you Jan,
    Your comments touched me deeply, and I really want you to know that I truly appreciate them.
    Where can I get a heart like that?
    Curt
reply by Rdfrdmom2 on 19-Apr-2010
    PM me your address and I will send you one!
Comment from Ronni
Excellent
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Curt, this being a personal trauma and horror experience,
words are so inarticulate to truly extend empathy and
consolation. I cannot summon ones that would bring you
comfort or solace; as much as I would dearly hope to.
It is truly anguishing to even just read of such abuse
and degredation; and of course, no one can know what
far worse pain and torment it was for you while in the
abuse of such a monster but you. How anyone can violate a
child just is beyond my fathoming of how or why; yet
tragically it does happen far to often. And true it is,
that broken child, is never whole again. Surviving is
a feat of sheer angered courage and undeterrable resolve,
and you did remarkably survive. Mending, yes indeed for
you is likely yet a trial and challenge with indefinete
and illusive results or resolution. It must often seem
like a prison sentence with no release date anticipated
or possible. I pray that it does not always remain that
way for you. Your struggle and pain has been long and
unrelenting; a credit to your stamins and endurance indeed.
No one knows 'where' God is, or why such atrocities
against a child happen when they happen. It is an
inevitable question to ask for sure. I have yet to know
or hear of any plausible answer to that plea or reason.
We many never know the answer to such evils and sins
in our lifetimes here on earth. But yet, that is when
we most direly need those answers undoubtedly. It just
makes one direly doubt a Deity all powerful, yet mute
powerless seemingly in such abmominable crimes against
innocence and helplessness of a child. It is a cruel
puzzle and unabsolving riddle.
Again, I am truly sorry for your pain and tortured
life due to this violation. I admire your capacity to
take it on at least in your writing, as a beaten, but
not yet ever defeated warrior after a battle waged by
an opponent far outmatched against you; yet you never laid
down in defeat and never gave up. Your pen is your
sword, truly, in this battle and challenge.
You have empathy and compassion here friend. Hugs
and prayers I extend to you as you still quietly, but
all the more emboldenly carry on. Take care.

 Comment Written 19-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 19-Apr-2010
    Thank you Ronni,
    It seems that a simple thank you is never enough to say when someone pours their heart out to me in sympathy, I guess I am just not used to it. Yell at me and call me names, i know how to deal with that, but offer me consolation and comfort and I get strangely uncomfortable. not that it isn't nice, it's just that I don't know how to respond.
    I just want you to know that I am deeply touched by your thoughts, more than I can seem to say in words. (imagine that):-}
    Curt
reply by Ronni on 19-Apr-2010
    It's allright Curt, I understand. After
    all the pain and anguish you have been
    through, it may take you learning to accept
    and incorporate sympathy and caring in small
    gradual doses and instances. Consolation is
    not always immediate in effect. It often
    permeates the psyche gradually, but don't
    be too frightened about it. Comfort is a
    stage of trust and belief, and that too is
    never instant; and takes time. Just give it
    time, and savor the small doses of it as best you can. It gradually won't be so
    alarming or imposing. OK? I know, easier
    said than done, but easy does it. You haven't quit or given up yet, and I don't
    think you will.
    I am glad my thoughts and expressions were
    meaningful to you, and you need not worry
    about the words to express what is yet such
    strange sensation and territory for you. I
    do understand. My prayers continue for your
    effort and your challenges. Take care.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2010
    :-}
Comment from Nicki_Mist
Excellent
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If this happened to you I am so sorry. This happens too often in this world. Some day those soul murderers will get what is coming to them. You wrote a very emotional poem and keep on writing.
Nicole

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Thank you Nicole,
    I truly appreciate your thoughts hope you are right. :-}
Comment from Mastery
Excellent
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I can only say, I hope this isn't you that have suffered with the memory, Curt. This is a very powerful poem as you know..Very well done, but it had to be hard to write. Bob

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Thank you Bob,
    It was very difficult to write, but at the same time it is cathartic. I hope that makes sense.
    Take care my friend,
    Curt
Comment from FREE-ONE
Excellent
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CURT MONGOLD-Although written very well and structure looks great...I was very sadden, I think because the news has made molesters look like Rock-Stars...I see more air-time about the accused more than the victims...There is a lady who just recently received her law degree at a late age, so that she could go inthe back-woods areas to defend victims of crimes such as these who do not have the money to come forward and fight on their own..Okay, I have said my rant but you really did a good job by given this important everday occurrence a voice...

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Thank you my friend,
    I too think that too much time is given to the crime and nnot the victim, but there is no ratings for the media in that. If it doesn't shock, then they don't want to do it. In this sense, they are as guilty as the offender.
    Curt
Comment from Amfunny
Excellent
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This is a very well written bit of writing that is horrifying to read and quite repulsive to think that someone could do such a thing. Not someone... an animal and a sick person. I hope that he is punished for what he did. Great writing. It must be hard to write this stuff.

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Yea,
    It's not as easy as some think it is. I'm an emotional train wreck after one of these, and I have had a few head-ons here recently.
    I don't know how to react to the punishment part. After all these years, it seems to me that I have been told again and again that this happened for a reason. If that is true, then God must have willed it, and if that is true, then the offender only did what God wanted Him to, in which case, I hate God and the world for it.
    On the other hand, if it didn't happen for any reason at all, then God is a sick SOB for allowing it, and I hate Him and the world for it.
    How do I win?
    Thanks for letting me rant, you don't have to anser, I don't think there is one.
    Curt
reply by Amfunny on 18-Apr-2010
    THere are so many unanswered questions, but I think the hardest thing for you to do is to get past this and move on and try to turn things around in your life. Might be hard to do, even with counseling. My heart goes out to you.
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Thanks friend,
    I have had thousands, yes, thousands of hours of therapy and have counseled many people myself. It's like gluing a broken cup together. Therapy is the glue. It may work, but that cup ain't ever goiung to be what it used to be, and there is only so much glue you can use before it all becomes a mess.
    Thanks again for the thought though, I really am touched.
reply by Amfunny on 18-Apr-2010
    I think you need to get past this before you can counsel others but you would be the perfect person for this. Once you (if you ever can) get past this and can turn your life around into a positive direction, you could help other child victims.
Comment from Janelle
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

That a man in his forties can write so explicitly, of an hoffific experience that was suffered when a small child, is testament to how much damage was done and yet how much that child was still able to hang on to his inner strength and sheer will to survive, physically and emotionally. Scarred deeply, yes, but a survivor nonetheless.

Your poetry skills are of the highest calibre and obvious to all of us who read them. Always technically brilliant, forthright, passionate, disturbing, gutwrenching and compelling reading.

Your struggles as the survivor of unspeakable brutality are heartwrenching, and awe inspiring. You have spoken previously of the terrible impact your memories have had and continue to have on your life, making most of us here feel like they'd just want to hold you in their arms and rock you like a child in pain, sooth your soul with soft and loving words and erase the nightmares. If only that's all it would take. But Curt, take that collective wish and imagine a huge group hug and soak up that positive energy. Every little bit helps.

I hope for you that one day all the purging will finally free your heart to feel alive and whole again.

Regards, Jan

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Thank you Jan,
    I doubt if anyone here could know how nervous that would make me.
    Why? Because I don't know what that is, to be cared for like you describe. I've heard of it, seen it on TV and movies, but never in reality. Certainly never as a child.
    I learned to survive early in life, no matter what. Unfortunately, I never learned much else. Like how to be in a loving relationship, (don't know what that is, honest) or how to be whole when from my earliest memories, this is how it has always been.
    Take care my friend and thank you so much for the hug,
    Curt
Comment from Oatmeal
Excellent
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Curt Mongold,

This poem was heart-wrenching. Very painful. The imagery was a nightmare. The flow was smooth. The rhyming very good.

It is perfectly written and completely error free.

I look forward to seeing you again.

Love you,

Oatmeal

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Thanks Oatmeal, my neighbor in Missouri!
    Curt
Comment from Begin Again
Excellent
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Curt,

Whether you believe it or not, you are the survivor, the one that rose above the sickness ...the perpretrator was the damaged individual, not the little boy. Yes he stole the innocence and it can't ever be given back, but you did't let him keep your soul...your writing takes it back and in some small way hopefully helps you and maybe someone else who faces the same horrible past.

I hope writing helps you move on or at least sort out the tragedy forced upon you.

Smiles and hugs,
Carol

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2010


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2010
    Hi Carol,
    The words are there for me to read, but the emotion passes me by like a lonely train to nowhere. To me, and maybe this is the wrong way to think, but to me, a damaged package is still a damaged package, no matter who did the damage. Yes, I have survived, but what could I have been? I'll never know the potential I could have reached, and that to me is the damage done, because I have tried, believe me I have tried, but nothing fractured comes back completely whole again.
    It's difficult to overcome, but I am still here, and he is dead.
    Take care,
    Curt
reply by Begin Again on 19-Apr-2010
    Curt, I've not been in your particular shoes so I have no right to comment...but as a friend who has suffered other great tragedies...I can only say that anyone who can write as you do has enormous value to yourself and the world. You have the ability to help others with your words. Secondly, NONE OF US are perfect..we are all damaged in some way...we just must go on in life, making do with what we have, not letting the other person win. My thoughts and prayers are always with you....

    Smiles, Carol