Silent Scream

Silent Scream – Prosery

The rules of the conversation were laid out forcefully, explicitly.  He was not to speak or interrupt, only listen.  He was warned that if he became upset or enraged it would not be tolerated.

These harsh words spoken by someone who supposedly loved him and a person he adored.  These words so different from those of great love shared just hours before.  He was inwardly distressed but scared to show his feelings, fearing repercussions.

He stood motionless, staring, and unable to form a response.  He felt his usual docile temperament was pushed and prodded to its breaking point.  The hornet’s nest had been poked for the last time. His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream that his mouth unintentionally released.  He did not hear his words only of their delivery.  He grasped at the air trying to pull them back, but it was too late.

 

Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing © 

Bjorn is hosting D’Verse Poets Prosery Challenge tonight and has prompted us with a line from Maya Angelou’s famous poem “Caged Bird

The line we must include in this challenge is: his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream. The Prosery piece should be exactly 144 words excluding the title.

Image by Layers from Pixabay

  25 comments for “Silent Scream

  1. May 12, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    Sometimes I think that some people cannot handle their anger…. maybe he’s a hopeless case.

  2. May 12, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    We carry those words around with us forever. (K)

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 2:26 pm

      Thank you…yes we do! 🥰

  3. Beverly Crawford
    May 12, 2020 at 12:02 pm

    A classic portrayal of verbal abuse and the ramification for the victim. Well done.

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      Thanks dear Beverly. I know you understand it. 💕

  4. May 12, 2020 at 8:26 am

    Words 🍁🍁💕

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 9:01 am

      Thank you. Yes. We grew up with “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words (names) will never hurt me” Who thought that one up? 😕

      • May 12, 2020 at 1:06 pm

        Yeah, same here 😕

  5. May 12, 2020 at 6:42 am

    Your work just gets better and better Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 8:53 am

      Than k you so much Darnell 🙂 That means a lot to me. I am honored 💕

  6. May 12, 2020 at 3:23 am

    I like the way you set the rules out in the opening paragraph, Christine, to draw the reader in – making them feel that they must also follow the rules. The second paragraph made me sit up and ask why? This must be some kind of abuse, which I find scarier than ghost and horror stories. I’m with Sarah on this one.

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 8:55 am

      Yes it is about abuse Kim. A controlling situation that someone has found themself in and they are trying to claw their way back. Thank you for reading 💕🙂

  7. May 12, 2020 at 2:20 am

    A powerful piece. I’m left wondering where the truth is in this relationship. I’m interested in your choice of gender, too – this would be very different if this was a female protagonist, I think. Making it male shifts the dynamic a bit.

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 8:57 am

      Thanks Sarah. I wanted to write from the female perspective but the line from Maya’s poem lent itself to the male. I then switched it to a parent-child situation.

  8. May 12, 2020 at 1:57 am

    MAGIC WORDS CHRISTINE, GREAT POST, CHINA

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 8:57 am

      Thank you so much China 🙂

  9. May 12, 2020 at 12:28 am

    that’s awesome Christine! so relatable!

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Thanks Carol Anne 🙂

  10. May 11, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    It really conveys a very strong message

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 8:59 am

      Thanks so much Mich ☺️

  11. May 11, 2020 at 11:31 pm

    Real poignant.

    • Christine Bolton
      May 12, 2020 at 8:58 am

      Thanks my friend 🙂

      • May 12, 2020 at 12:20 pm

        A pleasure.

  12. Sue
    May 11, 2020 at 10:06 pm

    Powerful!

    • Christine Bolton
      May 11, 2020 at 11:06 pm

      Thanks so much Sue 🙂

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