I am Violences' Victim <br />which scarred my soul <br />slammed it down <br />to earthly hell <br />seared it; <br />burned it; <br />made it cry <br /> <br />It shriveled <br />to a gnarled <br />stunted hulk. <br /> <br />There is no greater pain. <br />But I endured the pain. <br />I lived with the pain. <br />The pain became me' <br />dominated my life. <br /> <br />I struck out at others. <br />Cursed others <br />Wronged friends <br />who tried to help. <br /> <br />My victim violence <br />raged against them too. <br /> <br />Yet <br />over time despite all that <br />I nurtured my soul. <br />Gave it milk, <br />walked with it day by day <br />toward recovery. <br /> <br />Made it smile once a day <br />til a little of its pallor came back. <br /> <br />I was Violence's Victim <br />until I realized <br />that one has to be willing <br />to allow the Soul to live <br />again <br />if not <br />then to die <br />is anti-climatic. <br /> <br />I used to be Violence's Victim <br />now it runs away <br />having no more power over me. <br /> <br />And my new power <br />is not over violence per se <br />but the power <br />not to let it <br />carry forth <br />from me <br />to others <br />another <br />singe <br />day.<br /><br />Lonnie Hicks<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/soul-violence-tina-s-story/
