Tags
breaking silence, domestic violence awareness, guest post, share your links, writing about domestic violence
Photo by Flickr user Alex Indigo (Creative Commons license).
I seem to be sharing a lot more, and from a deeper well, than usual lately.
It’s not because I’m less anxious. It’s not because I feel safe doing so. It’s because everywhere I turn, there are more people being abused by their partners. Everywhere I look, there are more people ignoring, dismissing, doubting, and blaming the victims.
In the spirit of my post last week on how breaking silence is work, I think I’m sharing more in a small attempt to counteract all the misconception and indifference.
But I’m by far not the only one writing about these issues, and would like my blog to be a resource as well. I would like to start a page here that features links to other essays, posts, and poems on the topic of domestic violence. I want to promote necessary voices.
I have a good list going on my hard drive, but I need your help to expand it. Please share your links to writing about DV in the comments. I will even consider guest posts on the topic (drop me a line on my contact form if interested). My blog is not the largest audience you will ever have, but it’s here, linkable, and safe!
Next week, I will launch the page and share it in the comments as well. Thanks in advance.
another writing mom 
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I rarely share my own personal writing on this topic as I have clients that read me and it’s not always helpful for them to know the details of my story. But I’ll share a sonnet here that I wrote many years ago leaving a DV situation:
DESERT STORM
On the first morning of the first Gulf War, mouth
dry as sand, teeth clenched, feeling my head explode
from last night’s chardonnay, I slipped from the house,
packed the babies into my old car, and drove
as far away as I could get in a day.
Radio reports said that US soldiers
were dropping bombs in a country far away
but the blasts were landing hard on my shoulders
right here, knowing it was all about power
and money. I imagined them all running;
women fleeing with their children, under fire,
burqas flying, clutching little hands, trying
to escape violence. We were all on the run,
refugees, chasing a quickly sinking sun.
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Hi Penny. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous sonnet (my favorite poetic form, too!). Violence is everywhere. Gendered violence is everywhere. Your poem is a powerful reminder that we are connected in our longing to be free as much as in our suffering. May I share your poem as its own post (omitting your full name, if you prefer)? I guess in essence, I’m asking you if I may publish it on my blog. 🙂 I will understand if that makes you uncomfortable, but I would love for more people to read it. Either way, thank you, as always, for reading and commenting. ❤
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Yes, I’d be very happy for you to publish this poem on your blog. It’s fine to use my full name and a link to my blog would great as well if you’re willing. I’m really enjoying our connection.
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Wonderful, I’m thrilled! Will absolutely link to your blog, and so happy to do so. I’m so happy we “met”!
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