L. V., I Found This Poem Staring Back At Me From Across A Busy Road

Detail of "Evening Landscape with Rising Moon" by Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853-1890)
Strawberry Moon

On TV, a boy cries over the blood-soaked body of a 32-year-old woman. 
The editors gave the footage a black and white filter 
so that the only way we would be able to tell how deep the red goes 
was by listening to the boy’s grief-stricken howl. 

Someone changes the channel, complaining 
that they shouldn’t be showing such awful things.
Children could be watching. 

They don’t know that by seeing the gruesome realities of the world 
do we experience life completely, which is why we should be watching.
To know what’s happening would be the first step to being able to help. 
This is what we should be teaching our children;
we shouldn’t be teaching them fear.

Because imagine being that woman—to have people see your body 
sprawled out on the scorching hot asphalt. 
To have them hear the dreadful things that had been done to you. 
It makes them sick to the stomach. 
And so they switch to a different channel. 
Because they can. 
Because your body in a strange position makes them sick to the stomach. 

Imagine if the story makes you sick to the stomach. 
Imagine if you were part of the story. If you were the boy, howling. 
Imagine if you were her mother. Or her child. Her friend. 
Imagine if it was you lying there on the ground. 
Someone changes the channel.

- L. V.

L. V., i found this poem staring back at me from across a busy road

More Posts from Literaryvein and Others

1 year ago

Feedback for your writing project (sorry this took so long)

I'm not good at writing or giving reviews that's why I'm sending this anonymously but your words are always beautiful and heartwrenching. I think it's generous of you to take the time to listen to other people's stories and write them a poem. This includes people like me who don't write but have a lot on my mind and sometimes I want a poem that I can relate to haha

Thank you and just keep writing. And no criticism from me on the technical level because like I said I'm not a writer. I hope this feedback is okay!

No, this is perfect! Thank you so much. I love listening to people's stories and writing them something based on those experiences. I just get worried sometimes that I might not have been able to capture what they wanted, or do their story justice, as some stories people have sent me, I haven't gone through personally, so I'm glad to hear this. Again, thank you <3


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10 months ago

your page is like going to a museum; each post like a painting. Specifically the ones you weave your poems with classical paintings. i can go over the details for a long while. it feels like taking a magnifying glass to a miniature work of art to fully appreciate the little touches; and when i step back, i see the whole painting -- the bigger picture. thank you for the experience.

This is far too lovely. Thank you, dear stranger. You made my heart feel a little less heavy today.


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literaryvein - Original Writings by L. V.
Original Writings by L. V.

Poetry. Prose. Free Verse. May explore dark/sensitive themes.

210 posts

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