Hello Dagmar

This is a very sad poem indeed.

"As a child, I had no choice other than be imprisoned by two mad adults..."
^^^^

This is frightening for a couple of reasons. 1)It happens a lot. I have always said that one of the worst crimes is that anyone can have children; there is no law that prevents the dregs of society becoming parents. 2) That you refer to them as 'mad' - the idea of a small, helpless child imprisoned by two mad adults - terrifying.
But even worse, their madness seems to have been directed at you: "I was their everyday target"
Second stanza: relating what your parents reduced you to and how bad you felt is a perfect follow on from the first stanza. Having a child in that kind of environment and treating them like that is never going to make for a happy, secure and balanced person. 'flushing pills with poison' proves the point, I think.

The last couple of lines draw a little hope from a sour scenario, in my opinion. Yes, you have suffered terribly, but you grew into the kind of person who could forgive, and that is no small achievement after this kind of treatment as a child. Unfortunately, you are right: forgiveness comes if you are lucky; being able to forget is quite another thing.

Take care Dagmar,
Ben

I agree with Ben assessment. Particularly the part about people being allowed to have kids even if they shouldn't be. I have met so many adults who have lived through battlefields of bad parents, the mixed feelings of fear,hopelessness and guilt. It's not just the violence but also the manipulations and mind games that can still go on for years later as an adult. If you can escape and forgive that is testament to the strength of a person but as you say it can never be forgotten. The problem is that this type of parent is gusually so self absorbed that they have no empathy for their child or anyone else. The only important person in their life is themselves and their own pain. It's is a sad but thought provoking poem. One that reminds us that such things go on often behind closed doors but the memories never go away for the child even if later the parents choose to gloss over things and pretend they never happened.

Dagmar, how very sad and beautifully written. To have to endure so much as a child is unthinkable. Unfortunately anyone can produce a child, it takes a whole lot more than that to be a parent. I'm sorry you had to go through this, I'm glad you were able to survive this abuse and share your pain through your words. Take care-Brenda

Hello Dagmar,

the honesty delivered here is palpable. Each word rings so many bells for many, including myself. It is true 'you can't forget the two...' parental figures in ones formative life. They hold the power, and so your choices or lack of them. They inflict pain and misery because of their position. I can understand the need to 'escape' - for a child who is abused what else can they do? The extremes of attempted escape demonstrate the extent of the awful behaviours. No child should ever be subjected to that. No person should get away with treating another that way, but the painful truth is they do all across the world.

Hugs

Take care,

Michael

Thank you all so very much for your comments.

Dagmar,

This is a saddening and heartfelt piece. It's full of emotion and pulls at the heart strings. It captivated me the whole way through because the emotion is real sometimes that's what a piece needs.

As a child I had no choice
other than be imprisoned with two mad adults,
little I knew about the reason behind this sickening war
I was their every day target.
^^
This is such a sad opening stanza and grips me as many children unfortunately go through this. It got to my heart as I have young children and I couldn't imagine them being hurt or 'imprisoned' this is a painful truth.

Attempts to escape
counting cuts and bruises
flushing pills with poison,
it wouldn't let me die.
I became a person I didn't want to be
destroying those dark shadows was the only way to save me.
^^
Such a sad thing that you had to try and 'escape' in such ways by hurting yourself because of these people you called parents.

You learn to forgive
but you can't forget the two lives who has brought me here.
^^
Forgiveness is one thing we can all do but to forget no one could forget such a thing. How awful you had to go through this. No one should have to go through this especially a child.

Em