POEM FOR MOTHER
1. TRAMPLED
In hallowed halls where piety reigns
Rosa’s tale of woe was met with pains
A rapist’s seed within her womb did lie
Deemed evil by the church’s cold eye
Her pleas fell on deaf unyielding ears
The medieval minds her story fears
Unworthy of cleaning God’s own floor
Rosa’s heart was trampled evermore
Her mother once her guiding light
Now shunned her in the dark of night
Fearful of the church’s stern decree
Rosa’s name would stain her family tree
Insults rained like autumn’s bitter leaves
Rosa’s soul in anguish did it grieve
The world it seemed had turned awry
Leaving her to wonder why
In this dark hour a savior came
A drunkard with a heart still tame
His family lost in a tragic fate
He saw in Rosa a kindred state
Together they found a love so true
A bond between two hearts anew
In each other’s eyes a refuge found
A love that healed the wounds unbound
In this unlikely love Rosa found peace
A sense of worth her soul did release
No longer trampled but lifted high
Rosa’s heart began to touch the sky
2. ACCUSED
In public square, Rosa’s fate’s sealed tight
Astonished crowd with stones in sight
Righteous women, venom in their eyes
Deem her unfit, to live, to rise
Tied with ropes she stands helpless and worn
Spat upon by faces she’s known since born
Accused of taking another’s rightful place
A harlot, a seductress, a wicked face
The king and council, idle, mock the sight
Glad to see the devout in endless fight
Their silent a consent to the cruel deed
Rosa’s cries to her God her only need
As flames await to consume her whole
Rosa prays to the One who swore to make her soul
Never abandon, never leave her side
But the crowd’s frenzy, her fate can’t divide
Just as the torch is set to ignite
The drunkard appears with a bottle in sight
“I know your faces”, he cries with a grin
“You may not know mine but I know your sin”
3. ALOOF
In silence Rosa sits as months go by
Locked away for her own sake, she can’t deny
The drunkard’s care, a refuge from the pain
A prison of sorts, where she’s forced to remain
He tends to her needs through the pregnancy’s might
Fending off the world with a gentle loving light
His own demons he struggles to tame
Reducing his drink to ease her shame
But Rosa’s heart has grown cold as stone
A rotten apple she’s become, alone
Self-loathing consumes her every waking thought
Wishing she’d died before her life was brought
Memories of the rape still linger and haunt
Prayer, a distant memory, a long-forgotten chant
She feels disgusting in God’s holy sight
A burden to bear, without end or night
In darkest dreams she wishes to expire
With the child a tragic fatal fire
But the drunkard’s love a beacon in the fight
Shines bright as an eagle in the height
Tears fall as he remembers his late wife
Proud of him for caring for the church girl’s life
But the sun hides behind a veil of grey
A reflection of Rosa’s heart, lost, far away
3. ALOOF
Nine months passed and Rosa gave birth
Faster than she thought, a painful mirth
The man by her side, her only guide
Crying and encouraging all through dawn’s tide
Blood gushed forth as the baby took its first cry
Born into wedlock but Rosa’s heart asked why
She felt a surge of hatred and disdain
For the tiny being that brought her such pain
In a fit of rage she almost flung the child away
But the man protected it from her ceaseless sway
Her weepings uncontrollable, her heart full of woe
As she gazed upon the baby, with a hatred that wouldn’t go
The man stood strong between Rosa and the child
A shield of protection from her anger undefiled
He whispered soft words of comfort and of peace
As Rosa’s heart struggled to find release
4. ARMED
A snake she trampled that dared to strike her son
People she fought to avoid their venomous tongue
The boy she once despised now calls her mother dear
No resemblance to his father, only love and fear
His face a mirror of Rosa’s own design
Guts of steel like hers, a heart that’s truly divine
The drunkard, now a father with a loving hand
Placed a ring on Rosa’s finger, in a promised land
But Rosa’s heart remains guarded with teeth so bright
Armed with strength, to face the darkest of might
No longer afraid she walks the streets with pride
Singing songs of God who stood by her side
Nicknamed dangerous for her fearlessness and pain
No sympathy for mankind, only a will to stain
A mother’s curse made her stronger still
Standing tall, her spirit unbroken and real
5. TRAVAIL
Marcus grows, a little man, her hope
Rosa’s heart is still unaware of the drunkard’s name, her cope
Their marriage is fruitful with Laura, a new life to mold
A reflection of her father, a love that’s truly bold
The king stirs, spearheading the devout against their own kin
A storm brews as the drunkard’s beaten, his secret to give in
His brother, a public rapist with a heart full of stone
Now laid beneath Rosa, at her front to moan
Pain and anguish for the truth begins to unfold
God’s test, a bitter pill for Rosa’s heart to hold
The drunkard, a brother, a family tie so unkind
Rosa’s world crumbles as the truth leaves her blind
The king’s decree, a death sentence to erase the corruption’s stain
A murky bunch, they must be killed, no room for mercy’s reign
No one can alter the king’s decision so grand
But Marcus steps forward to take the fall with a noble hand
The little man chooses to die being the origin of the strife
A sacrifice to end the pain and cut the thread of life
He doesn’t mind the bitter truth of his existence so cold
A son born of rape now giving his life to fold
Captured and ready to meet his fate so unkind
Marcus stands high, his heart and spirit one of a kind
A young life cut short but a story to be told
Of a love so strong that it shines like a beacon in the threshold.
6. WRATH
Marcus wept as Rosa refused to part
Her son, her love, her heart
The church hailed the king, a leader true
But Rosa’s eyes held curses for God to pursue
The king craved peace but she sought divine
A tear in her eye, a heart that entwines
God rose in thunder with horses’ neighs so loud
A sky red with blood and vengeance with sound
His wrath unfolded, a breath fierce
Collapsing all that dared to fake tears
“Fools” He roared purging all in His sight
Leaving none to take Marcus’ life in the slight
Crocodiles consumed those who ran to the sea
The ground swallowed those who tried to flee
Ribs were grinded and the rapist met his fate
A pile of ash, his existence erased so great
“Rosa, take your son, your husband, and leave”
God’s voice commanded with a gentle breeze to breathe
She obeyed and they walked away from the pain
Leaving behind the screamings and gnashing in vain
