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The Uninvited Stranger

Another tirade of drunken anger Brought to life by the uninvited Stranger I lay trembling, still, ever so quiet In a corner, hidden beneath a blanket Biting down hard on bleeding lips I knew it wasn't to be over yet The blistering sting whipped our skin A silence of screams heard only within Upon our flesh of scarlet welts Carved by the Stranger's thin leather belt Cold cloudy skies, a mother's black eyes No friends allowed in while we'd panic and run He stumbled and cursed, threatening to get his gun To live with the Stranger's drunken rage Was like living in hell while trapped in a cage Karen Anglesey 2003 6th Place Win in Nathan's "In To The Deep" contest 07/09/13

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Skat A

Date: 5/22/2014 11:52:00 AM

KAREN, Congratulations, on having your poem featured on the Poetry Soup's home page. Hope you are enjoying the exposure. Hugs & Love ~SKAT~

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/22/2014 8:17:00 PM

Thank you for the visit. Much appreciated !

Ralph Sergi

Date: 5/22/2014 11:30:00 AM

Hi Karen: A very intense and fretful poem. I imagine that this person wasn't a Stranger once. Great Write.

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/22/2014 8:17:00 PM

Hi Sergi, your comment says that the emotion was intense for you. This was my father who was an alcoholic and my version of him when I was age 10 to age 16 when my mother finally left him. Yes, it was fretful. Thank you !

Kelly Deschler

Date: 10/15/2013 5:08:00 PM

This poem is very deep and personal, and it is a poem that I can relate to. It is a very frightening thing when people we know and love turn into these "strangers". That is one of the many reason why I have stayed away from alcohol...This was a very painful subject to write about. Well done, Karen!

Karen Anglesey
Date: 10/15/2013 10:35:00 PM

Hi Kelly, thank you for sharing your thoughts :)

Danesh Morgan

Date: 8/13/2013 11:25:00 PM

Firstly Deep heart felt Congrats. Karen, And my late father drank too. A glass and he is the most funniest guy, but with friends he becomes a monster but mum got the worst. . I use to drink. . . not a glass more but i rather have milk everyday! thanks for sharing coz that is one of best remedy

Karen Anglesey
Date: 8/14/2013 6:40:00 AM

Danesh, thank you for the special words. :)

Debbie Duncan

Date: 8/3/2013 2:43:00 AM

This is crazy good, ,,, after reading mine , then yours, " brings tears down my cheeks. Though I'm also listening to Delerium ,,, going to fav's ,,,,,, now to read others of yours. You have a fab day .

Karen Anglesey
Date: 8/3/2013 8:36:00 AM

Debbie. There is always hope to find peace and clarity . Thank you for sharing the deep roots of yourself

Stephen Kilmer

Date: 7/27/2013 3:15:00 PM

Drinking is a curse and a disease. I am sorry he hurt you. I feel your pain as I spent 10 years in fear of what my father was going to do to me each night he came home drunk. Some nights were ok but most were very painful. I wonder to this day why the evil live on and the innocence die young. You have support hang in there. It was not your fault. Kilmer

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/27/2013 3:28:00 PM

I appreciate your very insightful remarks. Unfortunately we all must recover from the affects of this curse and disease in one way or another when we are subjected to it :)

Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/27/2013 9:43:00 AM

Congrats on your great win..I hope that the topic was not your life but only about someone you knew or heard about..If your life, I hope that you and your family are safe now and the abuse has stopped..Sara

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/27/2013 9:46:00 AM

I did not carry on with this cycle. I abhor it and will not tolerate it for myself or anyone else. thank you for your remarks :)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/12/2013 11:05:00 AM

I sure do remember this outstanding poem of y ours. Congrats on its win in the Deep contest.

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/12/2013 5:44:00 PM

Thank you Andrea, I appreciate your support of my writing :)

Len Gasun

Date: 7/10/2013 3:14:00 PM

A poignant write but excellent poem my dear friend, Karen. Thank you so much for sharing and MY BIG HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWESOME WIN & FOR THIS VERY BEAUTIFUL POEM of yours! Cheers & big hugs! love lots, Leonora

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/10/2013 5:32:00 PM

Leonora, thanks so much for the BIG HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS... have a super day :)

Connie Gildersleeve

Date: 7/10/2013 1:24:00 PM

Karen a painful childhood. Writing helps to ease a little bit of the harshness you've lived. Congratulations on your fine win. Hugs, and warm smiles, Connie

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/10/2013 5:31:00 PM

Connie, thank you for commenting.:)

Joseph May

Date: 7/10/2013 6:53:00 AM

painful..but unfortunately this still occurs today....well penned Karen....

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/10/2013 6:58:00 AM

Joseph, thank you and yes, even Domestic Violence laws are unable to eradicate this plague on society. Thank you for commenting :)

Randy Curry

Date: 7/9/2013 7:10:00 PM

this is a re-read for me. Still touches my psyche. thanks for sharing. ran

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/9/2013 9:28:00 PM

Randy, thank you for commenting :)

John Posey

Date: 7/9/2013 5:01:00 PM

Painfully graphic.... well done... perhaps the only way to expose the pain experienced in abusive situation. Heal... and know you are loved

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/9/2013 9:28:00 PM

Even with all the domestic laws that are in place...this horror still goes on

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 7/9/2013 2:41:00 PM

Karen, you are amazing.. Congratulations... xox~ LINDA

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/9/2013 9:29:00 PM

Linda, thank you for your kindness :)

John Ginesi

Date: 7/7/2013 4:16:00 AM

Karen, This poem sounds very heavy, as the stranger seems very hurtful and very aggressive, most strangers can be like the poem you just described and people have to be careful when letting them in their homes as an unwelcome stranger. well written. John

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/7/2013 9:44:00 AM

Hi John, I wrote this about my father who became a stranger that I didn't like when he drank...thank you for expressing feeling the hurtful emotions, they were real .Have a splendid week :)

Judy Konos

Date: 7/6/2013 7:25:00 PM

It reads as total reality the only difference is that the Lord has given you the creativity to be able to tell your story ...Bless You...You are not alone...

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/6/2013 9:31:00 PM

Judy, I am very relieved to have been able to write this and also have awareness for what goes on behind closed doors.... I have a lovely life now but still carry haunting memories ..thank you so much for your comments :)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/18/2013 10:51:00 PM

GOOD poem too!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/18/2013 10:51:00 PM

it's sad if you had to live with this growing up. it's bad enough when it's someone that is normally nice, but when it's a stranger and happening all the time, how awful!

Karen Anglesey
Date: 6/19/2013 7:11:00 AM

Andrea, thank you for the comments. It is a poem of reality but I think it helps to tell the truth even when it's unpleasant. Have a great day :)

Kabuteng P.Ink K.

Date: 5/28/2013 12:17:00 PM

You've brought forth such a harsh reality here, Karen-- This is a gripping poem...it is so sad what alcohol can do, and mind boggling how people can change, how it affects the person... you described it right, like they are strangers. Thank you so much for passing by my poem with your inspiring words.

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/28/2013 6:13:00 PM

Thank you for your insightful comments. Have a great evening :)

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 5/26/2013 9:07:00 PM

Hello Karen, wow.. what a way to live... enjoyed, Have yourself a beautiful Memorial Day, this Monday. God Bless, Always~ LINDA

Karen Anglesey
Date: 7/9/2013 9:30:00 PM

Hi Linda, thank you for your comments :)

John Posey

Date: 5/25/2013 11:14:00 AM

This is as beautifully written as any accounting of violence can be. It takes a gifted writer to show the beauty of art in such stark terror and violence. I feel your pain, yet praise your ability to present it with such class.... Hugs, always.... Jake

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/25/2013 11:28:00 AM

Thank you for the gracious comments. Once it's on the page it doesn't stay in the mind so vivdly. Thank you :)

Joe Maverick

Date: 5/19/2013 12:08:00 AM

Thank you Karen for your welcome visit..I see you have expierienced mind bending stuff in your childhood..' Its good to see your writing's and the fact you have made the break with that type of situation..' It takes some character and determination self-awareness..Joe..)

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/19/2013 12:13:00 AM

Joe, thank you for the insightful review. I am delighted that you have read enough of my writing that expresses more of the me I chose to become . Have a beautiful evening:)

Randy Curry

Date: 5/12/2013 6:22:00 AM

alcohol fuels rage from within a person and lets it surface without warning. a terrible ordeal for your family. i can feel your fear and helplessness thru your poem. thanks for writing and sharing. thanks for reading/commenting on my write. we may be miles apart but we are neighbors of life thru similar circumstance that never heals. Ran

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/12/2013 8:58:00 AM

Thank you for reading. I feel a pang of hurt and fear when I hear of those who had to live through these ordeals. I remember as a child (about 10) making it my life goal NEVER to live this way. I am thankful that I have lived my adult life free of this kind of torment.

Annie Lander

Date: 5/5/2013 8:54:00 AM

I lived with an ancholic (my x) so I know the feeling.. love the poem verncular and the tone...

Karen Anglesey
Date: 5/5/2013 9:50:00 AM

Annie, when they drink they are like strangers. Thank you!

Michael Ainsley

Date: 4/29/2013 3:34:00 PM

You truly caught the feeling I felt hiding under my bed with my dog ,holding my breath. The stranger was my father all sorry in the morning. Never surrender! Michael.

Karen Anglesey
Date: 4/29/2013 3:41:00 PM

Thank you for reviewing and sadly relating... my father was also always sorry in the morning