“Our capacity for self-deception has no known limits.” Michael Novak
Somewhere In The Middle She tells her early life three ways, the innocent child who was bullied by her calculating brother, the young teen rejected by her indifferent father or, the older teen rescued by her caring brother, victim, martyr, sufferer, and somewhere in the middle of it all lies the truth which has been mangled and pressed down, like a bitter vintage slowly sipped until it no longer offends and tastes sweet in the jumbled retelling, a mask of normalcy and a ritual that hides an inability to accept the lived experience. Copyright 2022 ©Paul Vincent Cannon All Rights reserved ®️
parallax 
“it no longer offends and tastes sweet in the retelling”, powerful. Thank you pvcann.
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This was the line that struck me as well.
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Thank you Liz.
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You’re welcome, Paul.
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Thank you for sharing Robyn, very much appreciated.
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Bam! 🔨
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It has been a difficult road that one.
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Hate to admit they do sometimes make the best poetry
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That is so true, and I wonder that could write had I not battled.
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I think you would have had much less of such value as you presently do offer!
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Yes, I think it’s one of the few redeeming qualities of suffering and trauma.
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We do agree
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🙂
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Deep, Paul. As a person who has chopped, minced, pureed, and desiccated their past trauma infinitum ad nauseum, there is only so much to do with the mummy that somehow retains its kryptonite powers. For me it’s come to a place where I need to bury the corpse in an iron box with a padlock and move on, as I’ve reached no solid conclusions after the endless rehashing and have wasted too much time on it all.
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Yes, I’m only now in that place of letting go, you have perfectly named it, I’m saddened to hear in your words the pain I have know also, if only it weren’t so, thank you so much Lisa.
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Paul, you just inspired an idea about the letting go. One reason I think people hold on to their pain is that if they forget it it somehow dishonors their experience of the horror of going through it. The idea you gave me is having a literal gravestone placed where you can lay them to rest with respect. A place where you can visit when the need arises. Thanks again, my friend.
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That is a very helpful idea Lisa, I think that is worth offering into the world, my pleasure by the way, and I’m off to ruminate on your idea.
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❤
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Paul, I read about the being afraid to let go of past traumatic memories because it would dishonor the suffering, but the literal gravestone to lay them to rest is what you sparked.
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Indeed, and I’m glad to be muse to the positive good. Really appreciate you sharing it.
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Heavy and deeply sad.
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Yes, a life-long weight that is only now shifting.
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A ritual that hides an inability to accept the lived experience.
Really caught my eye
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Thank you Khushi, for me it is the person living a projected life in order that no one discovers the real life, the presumed deficient, tragic life because it would bring shame. Thank you very much.
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Powerful work. Thanks for sharing.
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Many thanks indeed – and my pleasure.
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You’re a deep poet…I love this.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Deep so beautifully written
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Yes, a very personal reflection too.
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