ART

Art offers a powerful medium for survivors of abuse to process their experiences, emotions, and trauma. It serves as a non-verbal form of expression, often more accessible than verbal communication, allowing individuals to externalize feelings that may be too difficult to articulate. Through creating art, survivors can gain a sense of control and empowerment, counteracting feelings of helplessness often associated with abuse. The act of artistic creation fosters self-exploration and self-expression, facilitating personal healing and growth. Moreover, art therapy provides a safe, therapeutic space where survivors can explore their experiences, fostering emotional release and aiding in the journey towards recovery.

Seven poems for seven sins

Inner Child

Inner child, forever confused?

Puzzled by alcohol misused.

His angry dad when so infused,

Did with hand, belt and bat abused.

Inner child, cruelly accused,

With arms and hips then deeply bruised.

His ‘self’ reduced and made diffused,

Mental pain left talents unused.

Inner child, who was once enthused,

Broken by violence, excused.

Mind distorted by truth refused,

Shrouded by lies mum circumfused.

Inner child is with hope transfused

And, by sound help, self-love infused.

Where visceral doubt, once oozed,

This inner child now disabused.

(Disabuse: To persuade someone that a belief is mistaken)

The Unholy Trinity

Sunday morning's allure peels

Pedophiles click their heels

Sunday School an open door

Fleshy choices on the floor

Parent's trust in Holy God

While evil men sheepskin shod

Eye their apples on the job

Which to tickle poke or bob

The jolly knight's chief desire

Blond hair blue eyes he'd require

The Scotsman chants lyric verse

With boys alone he'd converse

The coat of many colors,

He'd slip between boys covers

In church, at prayers so divine

Poor mums, they receive no sign

Pius pastors' theology

Teaches on Pistology

Their divine career assured

The Sods left un-turned accord

Sing on all in Holy Song

Blind the mothers right or wrong

Move Minister to Bishop

Precious Pawns instead they chop

Alone in Saint Ives to rot

Process This

The oxymoron ...
His anger keeps loving you
again and again!

Drunk Parent

Social lubricant?
Laughing, falling, fighting.
Three sheets to the wind!
Drunk

The spectrum of abuse is indeed vast and multifaceted, encompassing various forms that often coexist, each intensifying the impact of the others. The poems presented here delve into this harsh reality, illustrating how different types of abuse, from child abuse and child sexual abuse to expressions of rage, both inebriated and sober, verbal abuse, and even the profound impact of willful silence, can intersect and compound their effects.

Silence

Silence suckles sin
at dewy-eyed mother's breast.
Shame shatters love's hopes.

These poems serve as poignant reflections on the formative experiences of an individual who has endured these varied facets of abuse. Each poem is a window into a world where suffering is layered, and the consequences of one form of abuse are often magnified by the presence of another. In exploring these themes, the poet provides a deeper understanding of the complex and often intertwined nature of abusive behaviors and their lasting impact on individuals.

Shame About Shame

A paedophile knows ...
Shame shields sin in holy church.
There his power grows.