Poem - Beyond When

The poem “Beyond When” was inspired by the stated goals of the poet “Survivor” on website “Deep Underground Poetry”. Their passionate mission is to connect with and inspire other survivors while continuing their own journey. This touched me. My poem explores the injustices of the world that create those who struggle to survive. The breadth is large, allowing most people to identify with lifetime occupation of surviving. My secondary goal is to give the abusers of the world a mirror that will perhaps give them pause if they are willing to consider their ways.


Beyond When

When the belt was put
to flesh to young to fully understand
wounds inflicted
to sate the anger of the older ones
escape comes with age
for the rage they have will never stop
I move beyond reach
the blows find another place to land
or Father Time
removes the strength from abusers to act

when words were poisoned
weaponized to inflict the deepest hurt
anthrax is no match
to the toxins laced in the words spoken
honed to just harm
no other purpose may be found in their use
anger’s other child
companion to the fists that mar the skin
there is no defense
when the invisible is venom to the soul

when sex was given
to others taking what should be mine
where did my worth go
was the affection there when the words were spoke
the love is absent
passion so empty when our bodies embrace
lives endangered
diseases of the body, corruption of the mind
our trust revoked
when deposits are made to stranger’s banks

when body was taken
boundaries breached by stranger and the known
neither is benign
each has their reason to think the acts are acceptable
in Hell’s dark domain
the Lord of Lies has found these evil ones
the most intimate
breached by those who had no right to have their way
my choice removed
when nature’s most holy has been stolen.

when belief was absent
denial is the response that society finds
inconvenienced
by the monsters now too safe in their arms
so respectable
don’t rock the boat when the course has been set
only the asking
if I’m sure of the act now carved in my life
why can’t they see
it must be nothing when attackers walk free

when the sum of this
all of life’s stones cast to beat me down
bring me to my knees
asks me to leave my blood on the ground
life has no handhold
the safety net forgotten when I was born
I’ll find the answer
a reason to exist beyond the consuming dark
walk toward the light
to where the door was always there, just out of sight.

2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20161106.

Poem - Not to Lie

I’ve lost people in my life because of who I am relative to who they are. The poem “Not to Lie” considers the battle between escaping taint and being true to oneself. Note… I am blessed by many that who are both themselves and accepting of who I am, so I don’t discount them in this poetic consideration.


Not to Lie

The taint clings as second skin
unequal yoke in their eyes
separating self and my kin
by choices meant not to lie
the words spoke are the truth
not meant to state otherwise
yet still they offend the world
am I so different to matter not?
I can only be myself
deviation from the norm
though others wish for white washed paint
to be the mirror to their domain
I can only bend so far
to cast myself into their skins
before my scream to the skies
(inwardly if not out loud)
that I am more than alibis
they ask for me to tow the line
with safety asking for the same
that path forward would be my lie
by life contrary to themselves
human beings are cast aside
seen in shades beyond the pale
colored glasses cannot shield
divergence from routine
when I speak to who I am
so I’ll again my sole intent
not to tempt or mislead
the taint is theirs to lay on me
only seen in their eyes
I’ll find my kind in their wisdom
who loves myself for who I am.

2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20161106.