"FACINGFACES 2002 - 04" SELECTED POETRY (Part 2)

The Light of Hope

Battered, beaten, hiding faces,
muffled screams interrupt the night.
Beaters, murders, rapists too,
in the darkness no one sees them.
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Women and children tormented
bodies and spirits bruised and torn.
This darkness comes not with the night
but lives with those who refuse to see.
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Remove the blinders of indifference,
open your eyes and look around.
Feel the pain of those you are seeing
help us fight this darkness of man.
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For true evil hides in darkness,
shunning light to hide in shadow.
Open wide the windows of your souls
let light shine within the darkness.
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Bringing hope to those in danger,
perhaps a chance to yet survive.
Within the light of heartfelt caring
lies the hope of all mankind.


The Color of Music

She looks in the mirror and gasps in dismay,
then quickly closes eyes full of unshed tears.
Perhaps if she waits a little while longer,
and looks again the colors will have faded.

Thrumming swollen fingers on the table top,
she waits and silently prays for a miracle.
Wincing with pain she opens her swollen eyes,
the vibrant colors almost seem to hollar.

Vivid purples in varying hues cry out,
older bruises faded now will softly speak,
and the fading yellow can only whisper,
a simple tune, now a song of violence.

Her shoulders slumping her tears begin to fall,
knowing full well that later this evening,
she’ll hear the crashing drums and clanging cymbals,
her husbands tune of drunken rage played on her.

© Pamela Colling - Usa