I cry more now

Paint Party Friday

Revamped paintings with some digital manipulations, love the results!

I Cry More Now!

I'm older and wiser

I  cry more  now

when I see hate

  abuse and neglect.

Dissension in our universe

is sad and overwhelming.

Perspectives are askew

Shandra can't handle the state of the world and needs encouragement.

It's a blamers world.

No one takes responsibility.

People want an easy escape.

There is none.

If you leave a marriage 

there's is fall out,

disillusioned children

broken one way or another.

If you stay in the  abuse
the damage 
solidifies.  

Carmen is grieving.

 

Accepting mental illness 

is heroic....

If you also take responsibility 

for the ramifications,

the damage it inflicts,

the chaos and fear it causes.

Recognizing it as so.

 Defining it otherwise

is an injustice to all

 who have suffered it's terror.

 No one imagines themselves

addicted, homeless, alone.

But, it happens

Why?

The stories are missing

as the blame  

recurs

In labels, 
abuse, mental illness
addiction

Alberta and Al very very loosely sketched and painted...unusual for me.

I cry more now 

when I see the love

I taught my child,

  reciprocated,

in forgiveness, allegiance 

compassion.

Athena is full of wonder...she still believes in all the  goodness!

I cry at good deeds

kind moments,

joyous occasions for others

great leaders, humanitarians

trustworthy ethics and kindness

strong women, gentle men

I cry at stories of redemption

good music, cheerful endings

magical moments, philanthropy

I endure the pain of death
and illness. 
I shut my eyes to the

  visuals

 of abuse, gore, hatred

horror.

My mind shuns 

what shreds the fibers of my 

soul

Casey is a constant skeptic...she does give you the benefit of the doubt though.

In reverence I

grapple to shards

of hope!

and the goodness of my beautiful daughter!!

Do you find yourself a bit more emotional these days? 

Why you don't say a word

   Paint Party Friday
Show Your Face Friday 

Connolly original acrylic

As a lover of good documentaries I probably don't watch enough of them.
However after watching, "The war at Home" on Cbc last month I was
inspired to write this poem in  response! When things 
are a bit too raw I tend to distance myself to gain more perspective
and edit properly. If you have difficulty understanding domestic 
abuse and why women don't leave promptly this might be a
documentary for you to explore! Not sure if it can be seen outside of 
Canada. I've added Connolly the cat and Peck the bird to take
the edge off this dark subject!   

Marney original

Why you don't say a Word

"Just leave," they all say,  not possible indeed

held hostage by threats they daily feed

to harm children, or animals, ones that you love

sustaining control, they dangle it  above

I understand, why you don't say a word

terrified your words will go unheard

authorities eyes blank at the sound of your voice

prejudged,  you say nothing, completely by choice

 Victim once, a victim twice  

needing protection, needing advice

No one can help on those nights all alone

  noises in darkness, vulnerable on your own

You could call and be wrong, you set the alarm

terrified  that truck  might be here to do harm

Shoes by your bedside, under the pillow slip the keys
the cell phone, a hammer, you never sleep with ease

Some friends understand, the ignorant  ask why

you stare in disbelief that they can't hear your cry 

  screams lodged inside, hidden from the  world

protecting your children while the fear is unfurled

 I understand why you don't say a word

when you faced the courts, it went unheard

it angered the monster, fueled up the fire

the fear just doubled, so did his ire
 
When or if  you find a modicum of  peace

the sedated anger is never  sure to cease

It can smolder like fire, or fester like a boil

become toxic and dangerous causing turmoil

This is the person you once loved with your soul

you could never predict how it could take such a toll

Surviving abuse you'll not go unscathed 

The fear lays dormant, never goes unfazed  

Peck original acrylic

So I understand why you don't say a word

because women have died not being heard

Your children aren't safe, nor family and friends

it's the daily dilemma that  never makes amends!

or that never really ends!

 

Most of us have known someone affected by  domestic abuse!

Have you ever had to support a woman through an

toxic  domestic situation?

Mothers Day Super Hero

Paint Party Friday

Show your Face

 In honour of Mothers Day here in Canada and the United States, I am re-posting a poem written five years ago since I have a new group of readers. For the last few years I can honestly say I have been celebrating Mothers Day
everyday! I am very blessed  so this Sunday  we will enjoyed  a day
of rest for our family to do whatever is easiest and makes them happy!!

Everyday Super Hero, Birth of her day 

With a cloth in hand

She births her day

Throwing laundry

In baskets

Chopping food in her way

 She folds, makes beds

Runs up and down stairs

Answering questions

Gets breakfast,

makes lunches

Braids hair,

Inspects Homework

She showers, shaves

Throws makeup to face

Runs out the door

At a phenomenal pace

Drives children to school

Rushes to work

it doesn’t end there.

Dashing home late

with dinner to prepare

Children’s lessons to attend

Their practices to police

Fights to deter

Relatives to see

Stories to be read

Talks to be had

Exhausted she longs

For the comfort of bed

 More laundry

more dishes

The phone

Rings again

Dog needs

A walk

Kitty needs fed

 Ongoing obligations

Stir in her head

Along with

The guilt of

Things unattended

Like bills, the garden

Pants needing mended

 On and on she

spins like a top

No time to get ill

Or grieve

Thing she’s not

It’s a luxury

Her day

Simple won’t afford

With all that she does

She deserves

A reward

 Yet she’s

often Misjudged

Not Pampered

Not praised

Pitied  by those

Expecting her to date

 Still she conquers her list

Feeling overwhelmed

Yet rarely complains

As Critics peer on

Examining what’s missed

 Heroic,  honorable

Single moms of our times

Giving up evenings

to spend with her kids

 An epic woman 

In her effort to please

Yet so often treated

Like a contagious disease

 

 Although this was written with all the single moms  in mind, I dearly

respect all women who manage to pull off working a job,  

while raising a family....... you are also my superheroes!!!

It's sometimes just a little harder with no partner to confer with

about finances, household mishaps and raising children.

No one to carry part of the load during the daily drudgery. Of

course their are extenuating circumstances where women have

the burden of elderly parents, a mentally ill spouse, or disabled

partner. Also very burdensome situations with little time

allotted to self preservation!! Cheers to all of you! Single or not you 

can all relate to the many things women do in a day! 

You all deserve a holiday on a deserted island....or should I say

 a yummy Dessert-ed Island!!!

  

 Raspberry Delight
 
2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons of margarine
3 tablespoons of sugar
Mix those three ingredients together
pack down into a 9x13 pan
place in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes


Prepare 2 cups boiling water add 2 packages of raspberry Jello stir well
then add a 600 g package of Frozen raspberries to the hot jello and stir
Place the mixture in the fridge for a bit then stir half way through ...
so it's a thickened but not solid

Beat one cup of white icing sugar with one package of cream cheese 8oz Then fold in the 500 g tub of Cool whip

After the graham cracker base cools, put a thin layer of the cool whip mixture over the whole base
then spread all the raspberry mixture,
finish off with the rest of the cool whip mixture.....
sprinkle some loose graham cracker crumbs for eye appeal
Store in the fridge.....can be doubled and frozen too!
So yummy my brothers favorite dessert!


Mother or not, I hope all women will take this time to honour who they are and do one special thing just for yourself! Love you ALL!! 

What is one thing you  can do to honour yourself?