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