If It's painful for the one is reading this then I can imagine how much painful it would have been for you.
And it takes courage to write about your sufferings because while writing them once again we have to go through all of that.
It's good to know that time passed and now you are happy.

I loved the last stanza and the way you ended the poem.

Take care, my friend.
And all the best for the contest.

Nominated.. the end

Brenda your wonderful descriptions give us a glimpse into that locked door...as if we were peeping through a keyhole to your heart.
The silent, deadly reminder - a great ending!

This is absolute astounding work and though sad it speaks wonders probably to us all as we all put our guard up every now and again hell some of us never have that big itch down which makes for a difficult road with trust and walls etc but we all deal with this darkness in out own ways.

I am glad this is nominated and rightly so.
Much love xx

Brenda this must have been so hard for you to write. You've had more than your fair share of tragedy and you're really brave to share it with us. But even all of that horror hasn't been enough to break you! You're still here sharing your brilliant poems and sincere, insightful comments. :-)
Sending huge hugs xx
=^.^=

Brenda, firstly you have my sincerest apologies for setting up a contest that I didn't have the nerve to see through when there were poets like yourself who took up the challenge and bared their souls. Trouble on the main boards keeps me away, however. No excuse, and I am genuinely sorry.
To the poem. I suppose there are parts of ourselves that are sometimes best locked away - and kept so, in my opinion. Looking back and trying to deal with some things doesn't always help, despite what you read in the books! Lock them away, and discard them into a metaphorical pit, look forward and never - once - look back.
I find, as quirky as it sounds, looking up at the stars on a clear, crisp night always helps. I don't need to explain overly (you will know what I mean if you try) but it's something to do with perspective and understanding how vast the universe is. Not to belittle our problems a bit, but simply to try and understand that those who would affect us negatively don't have half as much power as they would like - none of us do. We are quite literally grains of sand on a never ending beach.

All the best, Brenda and do take care,

Ben

Brenda this must have been a difficult piece for you to write but you have done an excellent job. I'm sorry to hear of the darkness in your life but so glad you are able to lock it away in the darkness. Definitely deserved the nomination. Also very glad that your life is much better now.

You are much stronger than me and I guess a lot of people. I wasn't able to put pen to paper for this challenge.

Sending you warm hugs. Milly x

I read this a little while ago when we wrote our dark ones for Ben's contest.

I get why he dropped it but I am so happy you have posted this.

Stay strong

Craig

Miss Brenda,

really pleased to see this nominated, I read it before and it is an incredible poem of personal circumstances and full respect to you lady for sharing.
Much love
Michael x :)

I loved that you are strong enough to share this with us our Queen and I appreciate you even more for your strength. I feel you, and all these darkness that lurks within. Some circumstances in life do leave us in the dark but we always survive because we are strong. Hugs my friend!

I commend you for sharing I know it could not have been easy. There is this dark piece that just won't go away but it explains a lot. Whatever happened to us it has not defined us. You are beautiful. I had to let go he had power and control over me for way to long. You are being loved and cherished by so many and that's what matters. Hugs my friend

Congratulations on your HM this week. It's a wonderful piece. Milly x

Hi Brenda,
A carefully guarded place.
I think once we grow up to a certain age we all build this place inside of us or this place build inside of us because of our experiences in life which we hide away from others and that weight of those dark experiences after some time start to fill upon our heart.
We want to share that (pain, hurt, depression, anxiety, grief- the tone or mood of the poem) with others, but we could not.
And I loved the way you used the word key to describe the patience.
That you want to share or speak to others but you have that patience to guard all that dark emotions, but at the same time you are feeling it's weight upon your heart now.
And I agree with you, the loss of our dear ones profoundly affects us.
It makes us more aware about the outcome of the situations or I should say brings us knowledge or insight.
Theme or subject of the poem is darkness which has taken everything precious from you.
First, it has take away your dad from you at very young age.
A time when we are in the process of learning new things about the world, and in those times we need our parents the most.
Mostly, mothers are housewives, and fathers they have much better knowledge of the world where we have to go and find our own place.
So the role of both the parents is important in our lives.

Second, it came for your innocence, it could be anything, but I think what you mentioned that you have to work at Young age to support your family.

Then it came for jobs that you got, leaving you with money issues.

And finally, it came for a feeling you have in your heart for others - trust.
It tucked away your family from you.
Trust issues happened and you ended up on two unsuccessful marriages and saw your own child turning against you, left you with nothing.
You never even showed anyone how hurt you are, you just cry deep inside in those hidden places.

And at last you said, "I don't like to open
this Pandora box."
It's good that you finally opened it and shared all your darkest experiences with us.
I think this is the best thing about the poem, and this social networking platform(pnq).

I just hope after sharing a portion of the darkness hidden inside you you must have a felt a little less weight upon your heart.

Inky blackness(aura of darkness) is kind of addition to this poem, sounds original and especially loved the way you used it.
This is another beautiful side of this site, as I learned this new phrase.
The aura of darkness hides all your hurt and disappointment, your pain and grief and leave you with a bright smile on your face. Just as in your profile picture.

All I want to say, that It really takes courage to write all of this you have been through.
But at the same time it's good that you did so.
Never miss the chance to share pain and happiness with others and always keep on smiling.
I just hope I didn't disturb you with this interpretation.

Judging comment

"A carefully guarded place" By Brenda 10 points

The tittle of this poem caught my attention first.

I expected something about loved ones, siblings, family, children or even that place we all find a little peace in.

I was completely wrong.

This poem is an extremely emotionally charged piece that does not release you.
It grips and will not let go.

Brenda is one of those souls that can seem to write about anything, she does it so so well too. Very often her work is lovely but in this she takes a darker tone and one gained of experience.

Very brave and powerful writing.

Brenda you're a legend

Craig