Stop looking back
Stop illustrating your happy memories in
Watercolors.
Start seeing the shadows
Paint in oil
Smear past tears onto your canvas.
Parents then
Friends now.
The hours spent in your room
Becoming a better person
Seeing red
Feeling red
Hating to brush your hair
Become wicked cycles when you
Repeat the colors of your childhood and
Paint in the same shades.
Be a bridge between a broken cycle and
The legacy you pass down.
Reach for a new palette
Brushstroke sunrises instead of sunsets.
Too many people punish and
Forget to teach.
Loved ones then
Loved ones now.
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
Written for Experiments in Fiction Poetry Challenge #12: The Poetry of Childhood.
Subscribe to Nin Chronicles on Patreon for exclusive writing!
Ooooh, I like this piece. The reference of using oil over watercolors is strong. It is easier to manipulate watercolor and remove it if we made a mistake. Oils, a bit harder, but we have to roll with it. Thank you for sharing this!
Nancy ✨ mdrnminimalists.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Too many people punish and forget to teach” I love this line, Jaya! Your work is amazing and it’s truly relevant for me. Thank you for being you and for your such amazing talent! ✨😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your amazing thoughts! You quote my favorite line from this piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful and impactful words, Jaya! Your writing speaks volumes. Moving forward is indeed the key.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for connecting with this writing!
LikeLike
I feel this speaks about past hurts… truly touched my heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such great words and a powerful message
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe how strong worded this poem is, wow so much energy going on! But as always you’ve written it so lovely Jaya 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It is sometimes a challenge to rope the energy into feel-able words, so I love that you felt this.
LikeLike
A powerful poem so beautifully written, Jaya 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Jaya, this really touched me. As parents it is our duty to break the cycle of violence, if any. But first of all, acknowledge and accept that there was violence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Thank you for sharing this truthful thought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem. I wish I could stop looking back, my past has haunted me for so long and was the cause of my mental health issues, that it’s hard to shed yourself of it
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a beautiful poem! It really speaks to me on a personal level and I loved reading it. It really creates a strong, tangible feeling to it. I absolutely loved it ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your connection to this poem!
LikeLike
Wow… “seeing red feeling red” so powerful! Great job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Powerful message thankyou. Reflecting back on my childhood I see a dark grey canvas , I do my best to try and put in some dabs of colour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your personal connection to this! Dabs of color are as important as acknowledging the grey.
LikeLike
Such powerful words so concisely and elegantly expressed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very powerful words, it almost reads like two poems at once! Great post.
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
LikeLiked by 2 people
Smear past tears onto your canvas. A wonderful line.
I’m not sure, but feel you are talking about verbal/physical
Child Abuse. I might be wrong, it’s how a read it. however it is a cycle that is often repeated. 💔🖤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Writing this poem I had spanking in mind and, while, I am not talking specifically of violence as big as child abuse, it is definitely something that can be read into this piece.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
A powerful message comes through loud and clear in the thought-provoking poem, Jaya. I love the painting metaphor.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! The painting metaphor helped inspire the title. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person