There is something morbid
About the bright orange jumpers
Worn by inmates
Like fluorescent blood
Smeared over the remains
Of a crime scene
Sins annulled
By concealment
If only color could
Illuminate
The darkness within
*
When I was a child
I went to the first
Of many funerals
My uncle came wearing
His shocking veneer
Like a Chinese paper lantern
He came with armed guards
And shades of violence
Reflected in heavy chains
*
If only he’d had a mask
So I wouldn’t have seen
His bladed grin
Or his face laid out
In merciless lines
He’d raped a 16 year old girl
Unmoved
By the act of defilement
He stood proud
*
My father pushed me
In his direction
I tripped forward
In compulsory greeting
The officers’ hands
On the hilts
Of concealed weapons
As he wrapped
The chains around
My reticent frame
*
I became cadaverous in his arms
Ponderous and mute
Not even a whispered breath
I don’t remember his words
For the pulse
Of my rampant heart
Only the choked sobs of relief
When, under threat,
He released
*
true story
mindlovemisery 
Very nice imagery. What a story!
Its a real life story. Thank you so much!
defying description and beautiful with the hint of irony on the color orange.
Thank you so much =), I know why they wear bright outfits but its like some sort of freaky garden.
what a chilling write….
Thank very much for the like and for reading =) It was quite a scary experience
I am so saddened that some young boy/girl had to go through that…and the cruel father was the worst, blood is truly thicker than water…..A chilling, strong portrayal and deep questions asked….moving even if depressing. 🙂
It was me that went through it and yes I agree with you completely. Thank you so much for your comments and for visiting my blog
Wow! What a compelling piece; amazing imagery. I esp liked “cadaverous.” Awesome poem.
Thank you so much I am glad you liked it
very cool, I like this very much.
Thank you very much for the like!
Very poignant and emotional. Your use of words is masterful!
Oh wow thank you so much!
real life experience…horrible…… beautifully written though
Thank you so much. that’s the magic of poetry you can turn any experience into healing and art (well I try this last part lol)
A dark and poignant feel this brought. I love the eloquence in the writing.
Bless!
Thank you so much, I don’t think I have ever been referred to as elegant in anyway lol
This is a fine poem. This is an extraordinary phrase: “the bladed grin.”
I am glad you liked it, my husband insisted bladed wasn’t a word lol
Really powerful imagery and emotions.
Thank you so much for words
You set the stage and when you couldn’t break free it was terrifying. Very well written.
It was indeed! Thanks for visiting and for your wonderful comments
What a chilling experience! How great that you are ready to write about it. Thanks for sharing.
It was quite a long time ago but it does bring back some of that fear. Thanks for reading =)
I wore that tainted orange once but still find this poem very interesting. Seems you’ve shed light upon a few moments in time most would rather forget.
My uncle was a sociopath and he was there for raping a minor, which he did not see as a crime. Actually he felt it was her fault and the he was the one suffering injustice, so in my story I guess I am talking about the more deranged class of criminals. I am not sure what your crime was and perhaps its an experience that you were able to learn from but I don’t think he could learn anything since he saw his actions as normal behavior. Thank you for reading
Your poem says everything you just replied. Remarkable writing. I’ve heard it said greatest is benefiting from experiences that usually drive others mad.
Thank you so much for your kind words, I am far from greatness but I do have plenty of dark fuel for my poetry
I meant to say greatness nevertheless, your poem is great because it not only moves people on one side of the fence but it also moves people on the other side of the fence.
You commented on my blog but my reply thing doesn’t work so I want to thank you for your very insightful comments.
Thank you so much
It was truly a pleasure reading your poetry =)
Geez, I was posting lighthearted, fun stuff last week and you’re struggling with these memories. What a time for us to meet each other…
Still, you’ve left me with a haunting vision, and I thank you for that. It’s not all fun and games, but sometimes, the fun makes everything else easier to deal with. I hope.
Its refreshing to read lighthearted poems. I tend to write about sad things because when I am happy I like to go out and have fun lol
Guess you’ll have to dig out all the compassion in your heart and all the empathy and then forgive. Even writing it out like you have done here..intensely and personally, may not quite pull out the fear and hate . Wish him well, wish that he sees where he went wrong. That’s the only way he will stop suffering and that’s the only way you will stop remembering.
Thank you for all your comments =) I don’t like to hold on to hate and really its not hate for him its more hate for the crime