Daniel Henry Rodgers | + Follow Poet |
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Notes About The Poem

His trembling voice pierces the darkness, echoing the haunting journey of a fractured childhood, betrayed and scarred by the hands meant to protect. Each word carries the weight of unspeakable pain, etched in the flesh and deep within his soul. He recounts the memories of innocence shattered on a cold, unforgiving floor, the echoes of screams and the sting of leather haunting him still. Yet, amidst the turmoil, a flicker of hopeful defiance ignites within him, daring to ask the conflictual question of whether forgiveness could rewrite the script of his anguish or excuse the past and deepen the childhood trauma never to recover.

Blessings,
Daniel Henry Rodgers

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Forgiving the Unforgivable

(Lights dim, single spotlight illuminates the speaker, dressed in simple attire. Voice starts trembling, building in intensity)

Can forgiveness mend
a childhood, mine 
fractured in the dark? 
Where the scars are a map, inked 
not just in flesh 
but deeper in my skin? The cold
hard floor remembered the day
innocence shattered begins.

Unspeakable gibbering 
these scars, are etched
not just in flesh but deeper in my soul. A childhood 
fractured
innocence shattered on a cold
hard floor 
by the hand 
that was meant to hold
the voice that should have adored.

"Father," a word twisted
weaponized in the dark of night. 
A legion of screams 
the sting of leather
a suffocating fright. Tears 
turned to rage 
then a hollow numbness 
a child's
silent plea 
lost in the raging storm 
forgotten
buried treasure seeking answers
a love I'd never see.

(Voice cracks, a groaning beat of silence)

School and Siblings, a mask 
a fragile smile to hide the battlefield within. 
Each fractured memory, a fragment 
a constant fight 
to keep the battles I'd win. Teachers 
oblivious, to the shadows I couldn't
outrun, The amalgam
Storgevore who terrorized me in dreams
the damage already done.

(Years bled into decades, a burden carried with every stride is implied)

Trust, a fragile bird
refused to take flight- love 
a river long denied. Relationships
poisoned 
potential choked by a past I couldn't erase
A prisoner
of my horrid history, 
forever 
trapped in that haunted dark, dank
basement space.

(Voice gains strength, a shift in tone)

And then 
a flicker 
a seed of defiance
a question that dared to sing. Yet
was I forever tethered to the chains
forged in that darkened room? Could I
reclaim my story
rewrite the ending of this pain? And, yet
would the scars forever bleed, keeping me
forever chained by Abaddon in blame and shame?

(Voice softens, with a newfound resolve)

The journey was arduous
a mountain to climb, tears
watering the way. In the storm of prayer 
a lighthouse emerged... (pause)
 
guiding lost souls to the baptismal bay. Afflatus: 
Forgiveness 
not for him 
but for me 
offered a chance 
at last, to breathe, A release 
from the grip of the past 
breaking the chains and finally being forever free.

(Voice reaches a powerful crescendo)

He may
never walk this path. Yet
the burden is no longer mine to bear. His actions
no longer define me, his darkness
cannot wear and tear my soul.

He'll never know the freedom of forgiveness- I choose
to extend. But
the power lies within me, a burden
I no longer intend to carry. His actions
don't define me, his darkness
cannot tarry. I rise
above the ashes
a mariposa bathed…. 
in the golden hope of dawn.

(Voice softens, a sense of peace settling in)

Yet, the scars remain, a testament
to battles fought and won. Yet
they no longer are spoken in pain; a new
song has begun. It's a song
of resilience 
of an indomitable life that wouldn't break. 
The Spirit’s promise
to finding forgiveness, not for him, but 
for my own soul 
for my beloved 
and for the flesh of our flesh’s sake.

(Lights slowly fade, leaving the speaker in a quiet strength)

Peace, as a fragile Mariposa 
takes flight 
wings shimmering in the light of the hope
of a new golden dawn.

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Nancy Kaufman Date: 6/9/2024 4:21:00 AM HI Daniel, This is such a potent penning which offers such wonderful insight to the power of forgiveness and letting go. Bless you dear poet. I don't know how I missed it? Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 6/9/2024 2:35:00 PM Dear Nancy, It was a great joy to see your comments today and you are so right that there is great power in forgiveness. I really hope you are doing well my friend. Hugs and blessings, Daniel

Diane Christian Date: 5/20/2024 5:42:00 AM A very good poem I can relate to, I think it's possible to forgive, after traumas in my own life it can be achievable one of my traumas was My mother left home when I was 13 my father had a breakdown, I wrote a poem for my mam a prayer poem a prayer for mum , she left us for a man 22 younger than her but we will never understand why, I still tried to stay in touch and me and my sister's made sure we saw her before she died of cancer. I also wrote a poem titled just one thing, About mum Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 6/3/2024 10:53:00 AM Dear Diane, thank you for sharing your deeply personal story. The trauma of abandonment and your mother's choices must have been so painful. Yet your ability to forgive and maintain that connection is incredibly inspiring. Poetry can be such a powerful outlet for processing complex emotions. I'm glad you found healing through your writing. (Sorry I just saw your note) - Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Paul Willason Date: 5/12/2024 10:48:00 PM Have come back to read this poem many times...there is much to absorb and ponder. The connection between the experience and surfacing of that trauma in words has been forged with courage, honesty and amazing skill. It tells it as it was, raw and confronting but rises above what often becomes totally soul destroying and achieves liberation. Your poem is a hymn to hope and healing...thankyou my dear friend in sharing. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/14/2024 9:19:00 AM Dear Paul, your heartfelt words touched me deeply. Knowing that my forgiveness poem touched you means the world to me. Your recognition of the courage and honesty behind the words fills me with gratitude. Thank you for seeing the hope and healing within the lines. Your support and friendship are truly cherished. With heartfelt thanks, and many Blessings, Daniel

Kelli White Date: 5/8/2024 5:17:00 PM This with the drama and thrill could be a play, well done, Kelli Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/9/2024 4:16:00 AM Dear Kelli, that you so much for you most kind comments. Blessings, my friend, Daniel

Arthur Vaso Date: 5/4/2024 10:32:00 PM A poem that resonates with me. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/6/2024 6:31:00 AM Thank you so much Arthur and I appreciate your visit. - Blessings, Daniel

Candide Diderot Date: 5/4/2024 5:13:00 AM "Some things can NEVER be forgiven. Forgiving yourself for not forgiving, is enough forgiveness." Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/6/2024 6:32:00 AM Thank you for your comments Candide, I appreciate your visit and comments my friend, - Blessings, Daniel

Robert Gorelick Date: 5/3/2024 12:29:00 PM Daniel, your story hits a raw nerve. Mine was more of an emotional torment which went on to determine my loner status and devalued sense of self. I am able to forgive, in that I wish no harm to come to my tormentors. Is this true forgiveness? Not sure the true nature of forgiveness. I found encouragement in your commiseration; it feels genuine thus healing. My best to you, Robert Soupmail Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/4/2024 12:45:00 PM Dear Robert, your honesty and vulnerability are deeply moving. Forgiveness is complex and often elusive, yet your ability to wish no harm to your tormentors is a profound step towards healing. Your journey is filled with many who have experienced emotional turmoil and struggled with their sense of self-worth. I'm glad my words could offer some encouragement and healing. Wishing you continued strength and peace on your path. Blessings, Daniel

Hiba Junaid Date: 5/3/2024 11:59:00 AM This poem shows the power of words. It's a story about waking up, pushing through, enduring, being sick of enduring, and learning to fight for yourself, embodied especially by the line "He may, never walk this path but the burden is no longer mine to bear." This is inspiring. I have seldom felt so moved by a piece. Thank you, truly. Much love - Hiba. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/4/2024 12:44:00 PM Dear Hiba, your words touched my soul deeply. Knowing that my poem touched you on such a profound level fills me with gratitude. Your insights into its themes of resilience and self-empowerment affirm the power of poetry to connect and inspire. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt response. Much love and appreciation, Blessings, Daniel.

Valsa George Date: 5/1/2024 9:39:00 PM I have read an earlier poem by you where you have dealt with the same theme, but in a different way. The abuse becomes terrible when it is from the person who should have protected you from the slings and arrows of life. At a tender age when one undergoes such a traumatic experience, what severe damage it does to the victim. Through forgiveness and divine grace, you rose like a phoenix from the ashes and changed yourself from a victim to a survivor. Each line is packed with emotion. It has choked me with emotion to the extent of welling up my eyes with tears. I pray for you to get the grace to forgive him too! Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/2/2024 5:54:00 AM Dear Valsa, your heartfelt response to my poem touched me deeply. Your empathy and understanding of the profound impact shows your wonderful character. Your words show the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness to heal wounds and transform pain into strength. Thank you for your prayers and support; they mean more to me than words express. Personally, I come a long way and always hope that I can help someone else to traverse abuse. - Blessings, my friend, Daniel

Sara Kendrick Date: 5/1/2024 8:46:00 AM Very expressive, emotive and descriptive of those who have suffered abuse of one kind or another from someone who was supposed to love, protect and appreciate them for who they are. Thanks for sharing this one and the message behind it with us and for dropping by my page. Sara K Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/1/2024 12:12:00 PM Dear Sara, I’m deeply moved by your thoughtful response. It’s heartening to know that the poem touched you and its message was conveyed. Your words encourage me to continue sharing. I appreciate your kindness. Blessings, Daniel

Sally Eslinger Date: 5/1/2024 7:33:00 AM This poem of agong & Truth, DOES throughout speak the absolute live pevasiveness of abuse. I’ve a dear one who was molested at 10. It wasn’nt by definition Forgive mine came to,but a Getting Beyond, which has its own kind of lighthouse. I saw falling stars in the heave tears line. This is wrenching beauty os skul, able to help many. Bless U for this! Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/1/2024 12:10:00 PM Dear Sally, Your words touched me deeply. I’m moved to know that my poem resonated with you and could provide some solace. It’s heartening to hear that it might help others, too. Your strength and empathy shine through your words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Blessings to you, too. - Daniel

Andrea Dietrich Date: 4/30/2024 11:20:00 PM I'm so sorry if this is a true story. You wrote of it with emotion and remarkable wisdom because you were able to understand that forgiveness is the key to healing. Just letting it go. Must have been so difficult for you. You have great power with your pen. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 5/1/2024 6:24:00 AM Dear Andrea, your empathy and insight are truly moving. Your recognition of the power of forgiveness speaks volumes about your own depth of understanding. Your words are a balm to the soul, offering peace and wisdom. Thank you for your kind acknowledgment. It means more than words can express. - Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Regina Elliott Date: 4/30/2024 2:11:00 PM If this is autobiographical, Daniel. You were once a victim, now you're a survivor who tells a healing story. I was an abused child too, now a survivor. An immensely moving and touching account. A FAV. God's providence. ~ Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 4:29:00 PM Dearest Regina, your understanding of the journey from victim to survivor touched my soul. Your resilience and courage shine through your words, a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Thank you for sharing your story and for your heartfelt response. It's a reminder of the healing power of empathy and connection. Through Him all things are made right. We are now brother and sister and we are trauma survivors. - Blessings, my dear Regina! - Daniel

Ink Empress Date: 4/30/2024 12:59:00 PM Dear Daniel, this poem is piercingly profound and powerful! Thoughts that run through one that has endured pain from the arms or hands of one that was supposed to protect them so vividly described in the most soul hitting manner: it actually made me tear up! As these words do hit home for me and i know there are many too that would agree: your way of phrasing them is so clever and impeccable! Leaving us readers feel so much. I always say “ satanic seas dont define me” whatever seas we may have sailed across, the highs and lows, the darkness we mask, to friends and family, that are oblivious to the truth, they are all mere reminders of how we can overcome so much more but they do not define us, but made us who e are today. I felt this poem deeply and strongly! Its a fave for me! Every word in this speaks to my soul in a very poetic rhythm! Sending you light always Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 4:26:00 PM Dearest Empress, your heartfelt response moves me deeply. Your eloquent reflection on the poem's themes of pain, resilience, and self-definition are filled with my own journey. Your words show us that while our past experiences shape us, they don't define us. Amen! Empress, thank you for your kindness, caring, insight and for sharing your personal connection to the poem. Your light shines brightly through your words. I am always honored and look forward to your comments and your poems. - Blessings, my dear friend, Daniel

Duke Beaufort Date: 4/30/2024 12:23:00 PM Daniel, I seem, to recall you have written on this subject before. If wrong, I apologize. This is something we have in common. It took me a long time to forgive my own father...I have a limerick about this somewhere. I decided to break this chain and never physically struck my own children. Fortunately, these experiences teach us how to be better parents and how to explain the damage that violence and abuse can do. I wrote this on 01.07.2011: "Slap Stick It To Me" He’s sorry and wished it undone But dad’s home—there’s no where to run The spanking's intense Father never relents And imprints his hands on his son...we had no love in our home and I had fought with my older sister. My dad went crazy. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 4:20:00 PM Dear Duke, your candid sharing of personal experiences adds a complex layers to our connection. Your journey toward forgiveness echoes the themes of my poem, highlighting the universal struggle to break cycles of pain. Your limerick captures the raw emotion of familial discord, a testament to resilience. Thank you for opening up and finding peace in words. We are both trauma survivors and were better dads because of it. Blessings, my friend! - Daniel

Karen Croft Date: 4/30/2024 12:03:00 PM Powerful from start to finish. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 4:18:00 PM Dearest Karen, thank you for your most kind words and I am honored that you stopped by. - Blessings, Daniel

Silent One Date: 4/30/2024 10:13:00 AM Your poem is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of trauma, forgiveness, and ultimately, liberation. Through evocative language and raw emotion, it delves into the speaker's journey from the darkness of their past to the light of self-discovery and healing .. it celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of forgiveness in overcoming even the darkest of pasts. It is a testament to the speaker's strength and courage in confronting their pain and choosing to embrace healing and peace. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 4:16:00 PM Dear Silent One, your insightful analysis of my poem touches me deeply. Your ability to discern the themes of trauma, forgiveness, and liberation within its verses reflects a profound understanding of the human experience. Thank you for seeing the resilience and courage depicted in the speaker's journey. Your words are filled with the essence of the poem, and I'm grateful for your interpretation. - Blessings, Daniel

I Am Anaya Date: 4/30/2024 9:17:00 AM Mariposa is a precious butterfly, with its gentle flutter. Beautiful creatures, the delicate wonders of the natural world. A sad truth lives on and on, forgiveness sets you free like the Mariposa who fly's in the golden dawn. I enjoyed this imagery and the screen play display. I can imagine the actors on stage. For their consideration, a message well performed. Quite a cinematic portrayal! We try and stay afloat despite being pulled-under. Blessed are those who forgive~hugs & more healings Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 5/3/2024 1:09:00 PM I performed in dance class theatre at L.A. Pierce College & have posted video strips of the performance in my BIO. I have frequented musicals and plays:) Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 4:13:00 PM Dear Anaya, your heartfelt response touched me deeply. Your ability to see beyond the words to envision a cinematic portrayal speaks volumes about your connection to the essence of art. Thank you for understanding the message behind the imagery. Your words are a balm to the soul. - Blessings, Daniel

Victor Buhagiar Date: 4/30/2024 5:59:00 AM I have a feeling this is not fiction. Your writing is superb. I was wholly immersed in it. A great prose and poem. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/30/2024 7:01:00 AM Hello Victor, Thank you so much for the visit and your kind words. You are correct that most of this was real. However, I wanted to make it an aspect of forgiveness and what it is and what it isn't. - Blessings, My Friend!!!

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 4/29/2024 2:27:00 PM such a searing write, it cuts to the quick, and yet holds softly spiritual undertones of forgiveness and healing..i like how you've written it as a stage monologue..continuing to be awed by your writing skills... Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/29/2024 3:42:00 PM Dear Charlotte, your words touch me deeply. Thank you for recognizing the depth of my poem and appreciating its spiritual undertones. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I'm grateful for your continued support of my writing journey. Your awe inspires me to keep exploring and growing as a writer. - Blessings, my friend, Daniel

Paula Goldsmith Date: 4/29/2024 1:43:00 PM WOW!!! What a powerful write. Love can heal us. To forgive is one thing, to forget is another. God forgives us, so I feel we must forgive others. Childhood pain can run deep. One can Not change the past only learn from it/move on in love. Have a blessed day writing away..................... Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/29/2024 3:40:00 PM Dear Paula, your words were deeply felt. Forgiveness is indeed a powerful journey, and love has the ability to heal even the deepest wounds. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and for your kind wishes. May your days be filled with love and blessings as you continue on your own journey and growth through writing. - Blessings, Daniel

Heidi Sands Date: 4/29/2024 1:14:00 PM This is profound, excellent! I can relate from my traumatic childhood. I lost my family for pursuing justice for a crime. Sadly, I didn't reach forgiveness for them due to corruption and lack of closure. But, I use the gifts God gave me and live with strength and gratitude . Thank you for sharing! :) Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/29/2024 3:38:00 PM Dear Heidi, your words touched me deeply as a fellow trauma survivor. I'm so sorry for the pain you've endured, and I admire your strength and resilience. Your ability to channel your gifts into a life filled with strength and gratitude is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story and your kind words. You're a beacon of courage and hope. - Blessings, Daniel

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 4/29/2024 12:57:00 PM In the storm of prayer, a lighthouse emerged... (pause) oh how I would love to see this done on a stage, (bravo) you get full accolade from me, love this, a fav Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/29/2024 3:36:00 PM Dear Rose, your words fill me with gratitude and joy. Your appreciation for my poem and the idea of seeing it on stage means the world to me. Thank you for your support and encouragement—it fuels my poetic passion. - Blessings, Daniel

Lin Lane Date: 4/29/2024 12:54:00 PM Daniel, you've not just written a poem, but an entire one act stage play, including props, lighting and costumes. You would be a directors saving grace. It's a true masterpiece written to expose the mindset of a child who'd been abused and scared... finally realizing that only through forgiveness can those scars begin to fade; not disappear. Peace is found, and it gives freedom as wings to a butterfly, to fly. Everyone reading this should fave it. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/29/2024 3:34:00 PM Thank you so much, Dear Lin; your words deeply touched me. Thank you for recognizing the depth and complexity of my poem and for appreciating its potential as a stage play. Your encouragement and support mean the world to me, and I'm grateful for your insight into the journey of healing and forgiveness depicted in the piece. Blessings my Dear Friend, Daniel

Sam Kauffman Date: 4/29/2024 11:06:00 AM Daniel, once again your creative artistry rises to the top as you explore the theme of abuse, and the scars it leaves, in the light of forgiveness, "in the light of hope." Truly continued abuse is an on-going, often daily, drama. A wonderful idea to put this monologue into the form of a play - a form that reflects the hidden drama! There is such a sense of power in your words. If this is for a contest, best wishes. Blessings and prayers for all who experience abuse. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 4/29/2024 3:32:00 PM Dear Sam, your heartfelt words touch me deeply. Thank you for recognizing the depth and power of my poem and for your encouragement regarding turning it into a play. Your support means the world to me, and I share your blessings and prayers for all who have endured abuse. - Blessings, my friend, Daniel

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