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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Broken Girls

I see broken girls
everywhere,
trying to hide
behind polished smiles
something secret
and shameful
that was born
so long ago
and was pushed
down so deep
it is almost forgotten.

Almost.

I see broken girls,
frantically flapping,
always trying to
win approval
from parents
who have long since
departed this realm.

Broken girls
never rest feeling 
that they did 
enough.

Broken girls
possess hearts
ever weary,
muscles exhausted
from always holding back
that sadness they keep
in the dark,
lest it see the light
and multiply
like malignant cancer cells.

Broken girls
can see each other
and in their
invisible bond,
they make silent prayers
for each other,
knowing that
even they 
are entitled
to a bit of happiness
now and then.

I see broken girls
in line at the supermarket
at evening prayers
fighting with the insurance company
waiting out colorless marriages
in drunken, half-naked stupors
frozen and stuck in therapy
writing poems no one will see
stroking cats in silence
worrying about the future.

When I look 
into the mirror,
I see a broken girl.

20 comments:

  1. Oh my.. this is beautifully melancholic..! I dare say I can relate to this poem.. sadness is a quality that makes one human.. pray if sadness is gone; your heart would be of stone!

    I see broken girls,
    frantically flapping,
    always trying to
    win approval
    from parents
    who have long since
    departed this realm.

    It is so important for some girls to earn the approval of their family.. pray it should be such that their actions lead their family to gain pride. Perhaps then they would grant approval :)

    Loved your poem!!
    Have a great week ahead :D

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  2. I want to hug the speaker. The 6th stanza is heartbreaking and bittersweet, and the last pushes the dagger deeper. So vivid and full of hurt...

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  3. It really builds momentum of the theme and has a good punchline ending. And punchline may be a pun.

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  4. This is not a good situation, Buddah. You have made it very personal. The hidden poem idea was one of the prompts, when we wrote of Didion, I believe. Also one of the U.S. TV programs here is title "Three Broke Girls" but they aren't very woeful.
    ..

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  5. Buddah, one of the many qualities I love about you, this one: the ability to understand and truly empathize with women, while being a total straight guy, you know what I mean! Your sensitivity. You understand us broken girls, and it's not at all ironic to me that I chanced to write on the same subject today. We are in sync, even when we are out of touch!

    Your don't just SEE that broken girls. You help us tell our stories. The idea that one will see another and know is so, so true. I love you. Amelita

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  6. I imagine we are all broken at one time or another ~ exquisite poetry!

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  7. As I read, while nodding in recognition I also thought, 'Boys can be broken in those ways too' (my brother for one) — then you looked in the mirror!

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  8. Your ending really got me~ We are all broken! This is so powerful~ Well Done

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  9. wow...very well penned. there is much truth in this.

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  10. authentic and raw and powerful ~

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  11. This caught me really strong.. those broken girls that are all around us, and just maybe the broken girl inside that is the hardest ever to find.. I think there is a certain glace that hide the sparkle of their eyes that is the signature, or the tightness 'round their mouths... Great thoughts Buddah.

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  12. Wonderful writing, although I'm a little sad that I find it so relatable.

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  13. There is never a shortage of broken girls (and boys) in the world.

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  14. This is incredibly powerful.

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  15. This is great at capturing some of those girls I know.

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  16. I like the way you ended the poem especially. The ability to feel for another person is a human capacity--it goes beyond gender.

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  17. And YOU commented on MY recent poem about poems being universal...or that we have traveled similar paths. I'd say the same, here. Love you, Mosk. <3

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  18. Awesome. This touches me on so many levels. Love it.

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  19. writing poems no one will see
    stroking cats in silence
    worrying about the future.... that is so pitifully sad

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