Premiere Contest WinnerAn Unlikely Prison

As a young girl, my innocence was
taken away from me.
I was defiled by someone who was
supposed to love me.
It went on for years until I screamed 
no more.
The one-act caused me to hate myself 
through and through.
I didn't love me, how could I, I thought 
I was unlovable.
For years I held my head down in shame.
I was suicidal; In hindsight, I didn't want
 to die, I wanted the intense pain to end.
I walked around with unforgiveness. I felt
like I had a right to have it,
My abuser deserved all of all the hate
and unforgiveness that I had for him.
He had done me wrong, and it was ok
for me to hate him.
The problem with holding unforgiveness
in your heart is, it's like cancer to your
soul.
It consumed my entire being, and it held
me as a prisoner.
It was no way to live, and I wanted to be
set free.
Forgiving my perpetrator was the key
that set me free.
When I did, I experienced true healing.
Do I condone what he did? Of course 
not. Forgiving was more about me
and not him.
Forgiving him was so liberating; That
I found myself and was able to love
and accept me, flaws and all.













Inspired by The Forgiveness contest
05/23/2021
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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12
Agustin Avatar
May 31, 2021 at 2:34 AM
Congrats! Thanks for sharing this... and your liberating experience through the power of forgiveness. God bless you.
Balasubramanian Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 10:42 PM
Congratulations on your trophy win. Inspirational!
Poet Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 3:21 PM
Back to tell you congratulations on a well-deserved win Alexis; blessings and hugs
Kauffman Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 9:25 AM
Congratulations to you Alexis! You have poetically described the delicate balancing act of judgement and the release you experienced in forgiveness. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you.
Evans Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 8:08 AM
Congratulations, Alexis! What a courage. Not all, have your courage to speak out of such a sad and painful experience and the hurt you carried for years. Not all, have the power to forgive with such grace as you did. I am so proud of you to free yourself. You are a strong woman.
Swartz Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 3:26 AM
Great write. Congratulations on your win.
Brul Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 2:34 AM
Congratulations Alexis for a very well-deserved win.!! That once young girl is now a rising phoenix! More power!
Cunningham Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 2:18 AM
You have risen above your experience Alexis and proved that you're a thousand times better than he was. It cant be easy forgiving someone like that. I hope it brings you closure and that you can move on from it. Congrats on your trophy win, well deserved. Enjoy your weekend. Tom
Milgate Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 12:11 AM
Thank you for your poem goes beyond interesting well written --clearly has and will help others heal from their own stories.
Daniel Avatar
May 29, 2021 at 11:34 PM
This sure deserved to win, Alexis, congratulations:)
Hankins Avatar
May 29, 2021 at 9:49 PM
Alexis, I'm back to say "Congratulations!" I knew your poem was a real winner the first time I read it...and it is! I hope its story will be the beginning of healing for many who read it. Perfecto, my friend!
Y. Avatar
May 29, 2021 at 9:59 PM
Hi L. Milton, Thank you so much. If sharing my story helps one person, then me writing this difficult write was not in vain. I appreciate you coming to congratulate me, my friend:-) Alexis
Seeker Avatar
May 29, 2021 at 8:30 PM
Thank you for sharing how you transcended deep darkness. An inspiration for us all. Congrats on your win, Alexis!
Y. Avatar
May 29, 2021 at 8:36 PM
Hi Seeker, You held a good contest. I appreciate the trophy win. I didn't expect it all. Have a wonderful day:-) Alexis
Proxenos Avatar
May 28, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Alexis you are a shining beam of light, a star that burns day and night, of course you were right, forgiving has given you self approval, liberation and true might! Love you my friend, so sorry to her this, but so proud of you! Hugs, blessings, Jennifer.
Buehler Avatar
May 26, 2021 at 11:03 AM
I am so sorry for the pain you suffered Alexis, but I am glad that you found inner strength and healing. God bless you, my friend, Evelyn
Ball Avatar
May 25, 2021 at 2:09 PM
I'm so sorry to hear this my friend. I was never defiled like that but I was as a child held up to verbal humiliation and abuse. I grew up thinking I was just supposed to be dumb. That I was not as good as other people because I was taught to treat others with respect but it seemed I was always made fun of. So I grew up bitter and wanting revenge. This is well written and well expressed my friend. God Bless, JB
Buhagiar Avatar
May 25, 2021 at 6:08 AM
Just saying hello.
Daniel Avatar
May 25, 2021 at 5:21 AM
Very sad that you had to undergo such abuse, Alexis, but glad to know that you have the magnanimity to forgive him, our Lord heals us, and yes, when we forgive others, we get the strength to forgive ourselves and accept us:)
Kendrick Avatar
May 25, 2021 at 2:51 AM
Very expressive and emotive work that you have penned in this one. More and more we hear of abuse of young people. I wonder exactly how many women and men who have been abused by someone in their family? The numbers seem to be rising. Thanks for your visit to my page. Sara
Leffanta Avatar
May 24, 2021 at 11:50 AM
We are all limited by the borders of our own mind, and it takes time and courage to expand one's horizon. "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord" is a Western expression of Karma, so "live well and prosper"! Aloha! Rico
Pandit Avatar
May 24, 2021 at 7:01 AM
This is so very sad my friend. May you find peace as time heals.
Y. Avatar
May 24, 2021 at 10:08 AM
Hi Vijay, I'm in a better place, my friend. This poem was about the power of forgiveness. I appreciate your continued support. Have a great day-Alexis
Buhagiar Avatar
May 24, 2021 at 2:04 AM
Forgiving means you banish hate and wish the evil one the best of everything - hard I know. But you cannot forget. You are human. Wish him well and try to move forward.
Poet Avatar
May 23, 2021 at 7:11 PM
There are times when truths lie dormant in the heart for years and make you feel ashamed of what you did not do. This has been one of those times because you were the main actor in this tragedy. I'm sorry for what you have been through, Alexis. Hugs and peace
Wolf Avatar
May 23, 2021 at 6:42 PM
You have written unvarnished Truth, Alexis. You know that Truth, because you have lived it and survived to tell us about it. Good for you! Peace, Gershon
Hankins Avatar
May 23, 2021 at 4:45 PM
Such a poignant, and probably difficult, poem to write and read, Alexis. I'm sorry your experience caused you years of pain. I am so glad for this contest, because it will lead many of us to consider forgiving ourselves and others. I found forgiveness to be very cleansing (see my poem). Nice writing!
Y. Avatar
May 23, 2021 at 4:58 PM
Hi L. Milton, It was hard to write, but when I saw the contest, I was compelled to write on the theme. I agree; forgiveness is cleaning and liberating. I appreciate that you stopped by. Have a great evening-Alexis
Rodrigues Avatar
May 23, 2021 at 4:05 PM
All the emotions abound in this abuse write!
Y. Avatar
May 23, 2021 at 5:02 PM
Hi Kim, I appreciate that you stopped by. Have a great evening-Alexis
12
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