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12+ Violence

Blade of affection

by EsmerayaRose


A lesson wrapped in love,

Yet the marks tell a different story,

Whispers of anguish beneath my skin.

Each bruise a testament,

To the love I’ve been taught to embrace,

A paradox of care and cruelty,

Where affection feels like a blade,

And tenderness wears a mask of pain.


I walk on eggshells in my own home,

The walls echoing with justifications,

“It's for your own good,”

The mantra I recite,

As I wear the scars like armor,

A shield against the truth.

But when the night falls,

And shadows stretch long,


I feel the weight of silence,

Each breath a reminder,

Of the love that constricts instead of frees.

In the mirror, I see the remnants,

Of a spirit once unbroken,

Now fractured by the weight of expectation,

The gaze of others piercing through,

As I search for validation in their eyes.

Yet in the depths of this torment,


A flicker stirs within,

A voice rising from the ashes,

It whispers of worth beyond the bruises,

Of love that doesn’t sting, but heals.

I long to unravel the threads of discipline,

To redefine the boundaries of love,


To reclaim the parts of me lost,

In the chaos of tough lessons,

And to find strength in the softness,

A sanctuary where I can finally breathe. 


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6 Reviews

Points: 229
Reviews: 6

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Fri Nov 08, 2024 8:05 pm
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Acrius wrote a review...



This poem feels like a very familiar memory of what went through my head for a very long time while living with my parents, which grounds the subject matter while your enjoyable word choice elevates the impact and severity of the feelings and desires you express throughout its duration. I always have had quite a liking for words like "unbroken," "testament," and "sanctuary;" your use of them here really helped me grasp a better level of empathy and understanding of the meaning of what you wrote.

The lines: "tenderness wears a mask of pain" and "Whispers of anguish beneath my skin" do a nice job at describing what it's like to acknowledge a problem and feel so strongly about it, but hide that you're even aware of it for your own safety. The final two stanzas of the poem give a phoenix-esque illustration of your resilience and perseverance to reach the proverbial tunnel-end.




EsmerayaRose says...


Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, Acrius. I'm truly moved to hear that my poem resonated with your own experiences. It means a lot to know that the imagery and word choices helped convey the complex emotions surrounding love and pain. I aimed to capture that struggle between seeking validation and the desire to reclaim one%u2019s true self, and I'm glad you found that narrative in my work. Your insight on the phoenix metaphor is particularly encouraging, as it embodies the hope and resilience I strive to express. Thank you again for your kind words!



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Points: 59
Reviews: 1

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Wed Nov 06, 2024 9:06 am
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adhya wrote a review...



Hi!
Loved your poem and the concept. You have described it in such a heartbreaking way that I could feel the anguish and despair through the screen. One small feedback- you can divide this into stanzas to give it a little structure and make it a little easier to follow.
All in all, I think you have done a great job of portraying the complexities and emotions that are associated with toxic and abusive relationships.




EsmerayaRose says...


Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I'm glad to hear that the emotions resonated with you. I appreciate your suggestion about dividing the poem into stanzas; that%u2019s a great idea and will definitely enhance its readability. Your insights mean a lot to me, and I%u2019m grateful for your support in capturing the complexities of such relationships. I%u2019ll take your advice to heart as I continue to refine my work. Thanks again for your encouragement!




The emperor is rich, but he can't buy another day.
— Chinese Proverb