Friday 15 July 2016

Familial

 Kathe Kollwits: Frau mit totem Kind (1903)

I have no need of you;
your stillness brings soft comfort.   
Your presence smacked of
words of wrath of yesterdays,
words best (but not) forgotten.

She loves me she loves me not,
my stifling suffocating 
misbegotten mother. 
And here am I,
her fucking screwed up progeny,
did you love me did you love me not.

Quite frankly, I don’t care.

Anna :o]

Mama Zen at Real Toads has us writing our thoughts (in sixty words or less) using amongst others, the above image as a prompt.  Cheers Mama Zen!

10 comments:

Susie Clevenger said...

What a unique interpretation of the painting. In the soft lines of a brush harshness resides. I love how two eyes see so differently. I only saw grief.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Phew! That picture demands and emotive response and you have delivered in spades.

brudberg said...

Oh I do love this chilling yet highly emotional picture... This reminds me of one of the most chilling short stories I have read.... Sleepy by Anton Checkov .. http://www.eldritchpress.org/ac/jr/147.htm

Maude Lynn said...

This is a punch in the gut! Wow!

Jim said...

This is a feeling which we could plot its intensity pretty much like a bell curve. I've quit being concerned about my dad now but I doubt I will ever forgive him. Up to the day of his death he was blissfully off the mark, as if he was never wrong.
..

kaykuala said...

There may be reasons why parents had acted the way they did. If only they are more open in telling their children so that the children might understand them better.

Hank

hedgewitch said...

Completely relatable for me--a pity it takes so long to get to the knowledge--self-knowledge as well--that it holds.

Unknown said...

Ouch! But we'll written!

Outlawyer said...

A powerful poem, well done (though devastating in its way.) Thanks. k.

Brother Ollie said...

man - this is a gritty one. Pack a punch.