From Pain to Peace

This item is under construction, so please bear with me and keep checking back. I would appreciate a review, even if you don't like the work. I always try to return the favor, and review those who review my compositions.

Note: In its original form, Part 1 was written in a very visually disjunct way, with phrases strewn across the page, leading to the last word. The second part gave the appearance on the page of a quiet meandering stream, leading also to the last word of that section. Unfortunately I am still learning how to duplicate those same forms in the present format.

From Pain to Peace

Assaulted

shards of glass
screeching tires
gun blast next to your head
belching fire and smoke
mobs yelling
Who are these people?
the stench of injured flesh
your own
hysterical screams of fear
"DON'T YOU DO THAT AGAIN"
the roar of planes close by overhead
one after another
"YOU SON OF A BITCH"
explosions on every side
no place to hide
the earth shakes under your feet
angry faces
the crackle of burning
all around you
"CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT"
flood water rising
isolation
grimy iron-fisted hand around your neck
your face in the filthy pavement
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO PUT THAT THERE, YOU IDIOT"
rats everywhere
images you don't want to see
victim
beating rain
gun in your side
howling wind all night
deafening
lightning, darkness, hail
three witnesses you thought were friends
testifying in court against you
roiling thunder
can't breathe
I can't remember
where am I?
no communication
"YOU REALLY SCREWED ME THIS TIME, FRIEND"
people running
in all directions
blow to the head
then the ribs
no one cares
falling
confusion
murder
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT"
blinding lights
fast, loud, strange music
silence
face smashed in
hate
run for your life
flesh ripped open from groin to shoulder
"DON'T"
"GET IN THE DAMN TRUCK"
drowning
stomach cramps, fever
hunger
thirst
cold
hot
don't know anybody
jeering
ridicule
laughing at you
what did I do?
beat
senseless with a belt
shame
raped
exhaustion
hopelessness
fear
oppressed
where is God?
total control
anarchy
crumbling brick
torture
shock
numbness
liars
imminent death
no one to help
took everything

death


Released

soft green grass
"I love you and you don't have to say it back"
hope of joy
letting God be in control
freedom
"Would you like some coffee?"
"take all the time you need"
rocking the pain away
under the moonlight until three in the morning
lilacs and laughter
accepting the reality of things as they are
dogwood blossoms all around like snow
fresh air
colors of spring
fishing at a mountain lake
"If all we ever had was what we've had,
it would be enough"
never being yelled at again
a stroll on our sidewalk
"All is right with the world again"
no one trying to control you
wear what you want to wear
no criticism
never hear the word "don't" again
God's daily provision
"There doesn't have to be pain in a relationship"
"Thank you God for this good day"
fireflies trying to hold back the night
a dream of being rescued from drowning
you first
Orion leading the way
a fawn set free
our own backyard
no longer running the show
gentleness
kindness
mutual respect and admiration
in love
at peace
deeply happy
for the first time in my

life