Nowhere To Run
I had wanted to say scathing words
about ideology germane to female
genital mutilation; I could not see
justification pertains for an act only
inimitable as barbarous. In diffuse
debate I learned how little I knew.
If preservation of innocence is taken
to extremes there are ways I couldn’t
dream to perpetuate that blissful
state; clitoridectomy is just one which
screams the loudest distaste to my
hormonally challenged ears.
I did the reading, looked up diagrams
saw pictures of unsightly scarring too
horrendous to accept as imperatives
of racially deemed social distinction.
Innocence isn’t preserved by cutting
pre-pubescents’ non-consenting flesh.
I rested my case. Then in an easy
afternoon I learned of circumcision and
a host of procedures utilised to raise
breasts and reduce wrinkles including
genital modification not too dissimilar.
And there was nowhere to run...
© 6 February 2010, I. D. Carswell
poem by Ivan Donn Carswell
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Related quotes
The Cut
Proponents
of ritual circumcision
dress it up
as a health or religious issue
instead of the penile mutilation of boys
an issue of child abuse
as is the genital mutilation of girls.
poem by Vince Gullaci
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Delinquency 01
You can do Web crosswords where
you know most of the clues already
Or sit distanced with headphones
attached, keep the World at arms
length in timelessness preserved
by ‘Definitive America’*
Or you can write, absorb more
of its waste, and listen – which I do
I am amazed at innocence buoyed
in pure voices of those young men
lyrically celebrating our age
Guilt was not invented by their music
and the words were the same used
to describe our visions
Tears well-up in soaring strains of
‘The Last Unicorn’, I am raised and
at peace with my delinquency
© 30 January 2010, I. D. Carswell
* Audio CD (Jun 29,2001)
compiling ‘America’ tracks from
the 70s
poem by Ivan Donn Carswell
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Innocence Matter: Restoration Perfection
Innocence is the question?
Innocence is the X factor?
Innocence is life mortality?
Innocence is sinless state immortality?
Innocence is physical perfection?
Innocence is purity soul divinity?
Innocence is state of grace harmony?
Innocence is Trinity creation link eternity?
Innocence is life breath immortality?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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No Pictures Of This Baby
No pictures of the baby
The baby that was me
No pictures of her innocence
Because innocence you no longer see
There is no proof it was ever there
That I was ever something more
Than someone who seems so fragile
Because you can’t see into my core
Don’t bother trying to save me now
Keep your words out of my head
I don’t need any more reasons
To wish that I were dead
You’ll never understand what you’ve done to me
But that information isn’t new
Just take a moment and try to imagine
Why my hate grew
No pictures of the baby
The baby that was me
No pictures of her innocence
Or her serenity
A few things you did take from me
Things I will never get back
Don’t try to apologise to me
Because it’s too late for that
poem by Anonymus Girl
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Shopping Trip
So when are you going to go
fishing then? 115 mm of rain says
nothing’s getting done while the
anticipatory pleasure of still more
to come remains discrete
And it’s not as if it wouldn't rain
weren’t you there – although, agreed,
enjoyment couldn’t be the
same as standing out in it
soaking up your privileged share
Eight days now you have delayed
a shopping trip in case you miss
a passing shower. Claiming ‘I’m not
that obsessed about it’ doesn’t quite
ring true somehow
This pique of moribund despondency
paints your thoughts grey and makes
you live anxiously; it’s not for me to
say but you to do – at least shopping
takes the legs off such unease
© 1 February 2010, I. D. Carswell
poem by Ivan Donn Carswell
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Innocence Taken
Innocence taken
by those who thought
that it was ok to lie
by those who thought
nothing matters
Innocence taken
no longer available
Innocence unable
to ever speak again
Innocence silenced
to soon
Innocence taken
there's no truth over the lie
Innocence taken
by those who thought
I'll be the same again
by those who thought
its ok to kill
by those who thought
it's ok to take
Innocence replaced
by fear and mistrust
Innocence disappeared
before it came
Innocence taken
by those who
laughed at every cry
by those who had none
Innocence reflecting
a little girls eyes
innocence taken away
without my permission
poem by Kiara Davar
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Echo of Silence
I'm a victim of female genital mutilation
My father was an illiterate
My mother a child-bride
He preached the gospel according to culture
She was the subordinate wife
On the day of my birth,
she sadly watched,
mute like a stone
as my treasure was torn from me.
I only knew of this gruesomeness
when I failed to thrive in the ways of love
Stories from friends spoke of multiple extremes
Something strange to me.
My lover called me a log;
a name whispered for a joke.
In a fight to save my relationship,
I was told to return to my mother.
The confrontation was heart wrecking
for all she had done for me was love
but the truth had to be told
and the truth almost killed me.
Something given by God himself was stolen from me.
I was not given time to find a path for myself
I was silenced like an animal in the abattoir.
My deed was signed when I was just a babe
I don't remember the pain
But I won't call this luck!
My tribe mates who are facing the knife
with a grown mind
their cries are deafening,
their pains excruciating,
some have died from it.
But why are we letting such brutality live on?
Why are we bowing down to culture?
To keep us faithful?
NO!
Culture is just selfish!
I will never experience the extremities of intimacy
but that is a by-gone for me
but not for the next generation!
poem by Evelyn Nec
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Innocence Lost
I can't relive my life
I can't retrace my tracks
I can't undo what's done
There is no going back
I chased a selfish dream
Did not survey the cost
Illusions disappeared
I've found my innocence lost
Some say it's lessons learned
Some say it's a living life
I say it's choices made
Knowing wrong from right
One night I fought to sleep
In my slumber I turned and tossed
I woke to a cloudy day
And found my innocence lost
Innocent child is a beautiful thing
Secure in her father's arms
Sleeps while a mother sings
There's no way to know
All the harm this world can bring
I miss my innocence
Oh, to be innocent
My heavenly Father
The well of eternal love
That overflows with grace
I can completely trust
My broken heart repaired
And all my sin forgot
I can be pure again
In spite of my innocence lost
In his eyes I'm a newborn child
Cuz I accept his love
I have a newfound hope
Though I've found my innocence lost
I can be pure again
I've found my innocence lost
song performed by by Amy Grant
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Innocence Is Affirmation Verification Of Light
Innocence is not an absence of legal guilt
Innocence is not freedom from specific wrongs
Innocence is a quality state of freedom from sins guilt
loss of innocence no integral part
of maturity necessary coming of age
awareness of world pain suffering evil
Innocence is not absence of normative experience
Innocence is not ignorance not knowing evil
Innocence is affirmation a naked sinless nature
Innocence is choice verification of brilliant divinity light
poem by Terence George Craddock
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I've learned
Ive learned that to love someone doesnt have to involve pain,
Ive learned that to have a friend you must be a friend first,
Ive learned that in time youll see your mistakes and learn from them,
Ive learned that to be alone sometimes is the best thing for you,
Ive learned that in order to love a person you must feel loved,
Ive learned that if your wrong admit it or youll never forgive yourself,
Ive learned that your first love will be a part of you and you may never forget,
Ive learned that in order to move on you must fix what was first wrong,
Ive learned that if you ever mess up, you can always start over again,
Ive learned that to be 'cool' doesnt involve pressure,
Ive learned to accept what I have and be happy,
Ive learned that people will come and go so tell the ones you love how you feel,
Ive learned that to respect yourself you must respect others,
Ive learned that your actions always involve consequences whether it be good or bad,
Ive learned that priceless words can mean the world to someone,
Ive learned that sometimes being silent is the best solution,
Ive learned to expect the unexpected,
Ive learned that healing a broken heart involves tears and pain,
Ive learned to see the world in the eyes of others,
And Ive learned that each new day is a day to touch a life.
poem by Carly Almonde
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My Innocence Killed Me
INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE OH WHY DO I CRY? INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE WHERE IS THE TRUTH OVER THE LIE? INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE CAN THE GROUND KEEP ME DOWN? INNOCENCE OH INNOCENCE, WHO KEEPS PULLING YOU DOWN?
FAIL TO THE SYSTEM MY INNOCENCE WAS TAKING AWAY
I WISH FOR IT BACK EACH AND EVERY DAY
AS I LIE SMOTHERED UNDERGROUND
I COULD HAVE SURVIVED IF INNOCENCE WOULD HAVE STAYED AROUND
MY SHELTER, MY GROUND, AND ALSO MY ROOF
WHICH WAS DESIGNED ONLY TO PROTECT MY PROOF
EVIDENCE IS SUBMITTED ONLY TO HELP
WHEN I TURNED TO LOOK INTO YOUR EYES YOU LEFT
SEEKING WEALTH
ONLY TO LEAVE ME INSIDE AN EMPTY CHAMBER
FILLED WITH SO MUCH MAINLY ANGER
MY DISAPPOINTMENT IS PERCEIVED AS RAGE
IT'S JUST A CRAZE
TO BE TAKEN OUT OF MY MISERY RELEASED FROM THIS CAGE
INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE OH WHY I CRY? INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE WHERE IS THE TRUTH OVER THE LIE? INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE CAN THE GREED KEEP ME DOWN? INNOCENCE OH INNOCENCE, WHO KEEPS PULLING YOU DOWN?
NEGATIVE INTERIOR EMOTIONALLY INFERIOR
WHY DOES MY FREEDOM HAVE TO BE DESTROYED OVER MATERIAL?
LOOKING AT INNOCENCE AND IT SEEMS SO STRANGE.
LOOKING AT MY SITUATION AND REALIZING NOTHING WILL CHANGE.
PURE INJUSTICE TRAIL IS NOT THE SAME.
TAKING MENTAL PICTURES PLACING THEM INSIDE A FRAME.
WHEN THEY ENTER HELL HOPELY THEY BURN IN FLAMES.
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
TO DEATH WHAT IS GAIN?
TO BONDAGE WHAT IS A CHAIN?
INNOCENCE WAS SLAINED AS THEY SCREAMED OUT MY NAME I'M ASKING FOR CHANGE GOT DEATH IN EXCHANGE PARDON MY SCREAM AND KICKS FORGET ABOUT MY INNOCENCE FREEDOM INVOLVE TRICKS AND I CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH MY INNOCENCE IS THE ONLY REASON I GOT STABBED ON THIS SLAB AS I'M SLICED IN HALF REACHING FOR THE INNOCENCE THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GRAB YELLING OUT SO UNJUST VOICE YELLS OUT HUSH AND RUSH INTO MY EMBRACE AS THEY REVIVE MY SPIRIT AND TOUCH MY FACE. IS IT GOD OR INNOCENCE THAT I CHASE?
INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE WHY DO I CRY? INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE WHERE IS THE TRUTH OVER THE LIE? INNOCENCE, INNOCENCE CAN GREED KEEP ME DOWN?
INNOCENCE OH INNOCENCE, WHO KEEPS PULLING YOU DOWN.
poem by Courtney Steele
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Innosense
innocence
innocence finds you there
innocence
innocence doesn't care
any way you choose
the sun and the son
are true
hold me now
I won't let go
innocence
innocence lets you go
innocence holds you down
any way
any way that you want
and you will be there
with the sun
and you say you don't care
oh
song performed by by Smashing Pumpkins from Machina II / Friends and Enemies of Modern Music
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Innocence Is A Harmonic Restoration Seed
innocence is a blessing easily tarnished
innocence sees beauty even in dark souls
innocence has belief to calm brutal beasts
innocence is a sacred gift easily forfeit lost
innocence has faith to restore hardened hearts
innocence has vision to invoke creative remedies
innocence is a unique seed of passion harmonies
innocence has truth to see path to restorations
innocence has patience to work new miracles
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Innocence and Peace
Eons ago the Mother spoke
And elements of chaos awoke.
Then, working with great skill and care,
She blended the water with fire and air,
Creating creatures, each a pair.
The faerin folk were given lease,
The cosmos knew innocence and peace.
Eventually earth element sought
To join the trio, and she thought
To create new creatures from the sand
Who would work together hand in hand
To love and protect her precious land.
So the animals spread in wood and vale
While innocence and peace prevail.
Then came the last part of the plan
To create a creature they called man.
So he would become the master race,
They put a superior brain in place;
But this was not to be the case.
A mistake, and soon they learned the cost
For innocence and peace were lost.
poem by Irene C S ClarkHogg
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Warmish Day
‘nother warmish day,34° on the patio
irrigation underway in an Orchard too
easily dehydrated by parable to deny
deeply ingrained psychology sprays
delusionary water where precious drops
of rain would soothe sun-savaged weals
inane ideas afoot in arid contempt of
what makes the debate germane is
amply evidenced but I’ll save the trees
so save yourselves wear buoyancy
vests learn how to float between
troughs and crests of arrant treason
warming is merely a warning before
the downpour begins and a freeze
proceeds to inaugurate your pain
© 18 December 2009, I. D. Carswell
poem by Ivan Donn Carswell
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Please Don't
She only was trying to sooth his back pain; when he stole her innocence away. He took her by surprise and even though he saw the fear in her eyes all he could say was please don’t pull away. Thinking that all he wanted was a romantic kiss she relaxed, but before she knew it he began to unbutton her blouse fear took over the words please don’t could not come out. I’m a virgin she said, I never done anything like this before but her words he ignored. He then flipped her over and penetrated her from behind. Fear took her voice again because she was screaming please don’t in her mind. But her innocence was gone even though she said please don’t.
Cabbages And Beans
Like the dunny door it
simply bangs incessantly
until your patience thins
You can refuse to hear
it if you fry your brains
in oil with vapid apathy
A fear is that it might be
right and sadly true but
then again it might be wind
You’ve clearly had enough
if you accede too meekly
to its patent bullying
This cringing metaphor is
brazenness acclaimed
as an incipient authority
While all I see’s a pannier
of cabbage leaves and
salty beans
© 2 February 2010, I. D. Carswell
poem by Ivan Donn Carswell
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San Francisco - 1981
My ignorance glittered like gold to whose eyes
Were larger than their mouth could speak;
Gesture of unspoken words melted me like ice,
The bar was such my place to be the freak.
Site of no expectation, liaison of men to men,
But how could they believe me then;
At the entrance, where I knew not, I walked in
With a man who happened to be a cousin.
Pride dissolved my color which I could not change,
But my nativity has pleaded for my innocence,
This language that didn’t come with my existence
Taught me no words to reason for my defense;
Of such question, I didn’t understand such a word,
That embarrassed me for my name is not Gay,
Strange as I sounded, I came here without a clue,
And who was I to disrespect to each own virtue.
I, therefore, challenged the night for what it offered,
Alcoholic beverages I learned to consume;
They said I disobeyed the teachings of our Dear Lord,
If these were sins, I am only human not a saint!
poem by Efren Petalver Carranza
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When You Have Done Your Best
when you have done your best
and they all begin to like
your art
your ways and what you want to become
when they also want to become like you
when you tell them now where to go
and what to do
when they are now at home with themselves
in their own chosen climates and houses
when they have understood their fears
and learned to live with their longings
when they have learned the power
of laughter
when they have learned to dream
when they have learned
how to talk to a tree,
it is time for you to go
you have freed them all from their shackles
you have taught them how to fish
it is time for you to go
your presence has become useless
it is now time to go
human reconstructor.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Rivers and Boats
I don't know what you look like now
I burned the bridges and the boats
And this old photograph I've found
It shows you standing by the road
Your windblown hair across your face
Just as I turned and looked away
I always got my timing wrong
I couldn't wait and you were gone
I heard your voice a year ago
We talked about so many things
That maybe you'd be coming home
But all those words on broken wings
Fell down the well of endless time
To echo through some restless night
I never quite caught sight of you
I never quite knew what to do
I sometimes think of yesterday
And all the strange things that it brings
That searching for the holy grail
The honesty and innocence
that maybe blindness shielded us
until we understood this world
For looking back it's clear to me
It wasn't what it seemed to be
Sometimes I dream that you're still here
Just doing ordinary things
You fix your stockings, brush your hair
Then suddenly, you've sprouted wings
You were no angel, no white flag
And I know you're not coming back
I never saw you as you were
When you were all I wanted then
I don't know if we'll meet again
So maybe I should say it now
I always tried to play it straight
But couldn't free myself somehow
I saw you as a state of grace
And built myself a bolted gate
To save me from the love that grew
The way a hurricane might do
But still, it's safe enough to look
At this old photograph of you
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