Penned


“Penned” 

what happens 
when it comes to this
another woman 
takes your child

as her own 

and red becomes 
the bloody murder
penned in a pig stye, 
left field left 

the apple of her eye

green, 
as iceberg
lettuce lies laced
salad days waisted 

shredded through windows, 

cold
thunderstorms 
in the heart betrayed
rigour resigns against pain

the revenant
never left 
resonance resides 
on repeat morse 
 
tear-streaked
reigning

(LadyLabyrinth / 2022)




“I Hold You” / Clann
https://youtu.be/uNGmyQ8UbZ8


CLANN — KIN FABLES [Full Album]
https://youtu.be/q2r9smjuA2Q


CLANN — Seelie [Full Album]
https://youtu.be/jn6UB-jLblM













LYRICS/ "I Hold You", Clann
https://genius.com/Clann-i-hold-you-lyrics






"The Handmaid's Tale", Margaret Atwood (EBOOK) 
(PDF download, link)
https://onuploads.com/yd52bar3w8cl/The-Handmaid%E2%80%99s-Tale.pdf.html



"The Handmaid's Tale", Margaret Atwood (Seasons 1-5)
https://movies2watch.is/watch-tv/watch-the-handmaids-tale-hd-39270.4912660









1. maternal alienation

2. surrogacy

3. Penned
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/penned

wasted.
waisted.





https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/110550/2/02whole.pdf

https://cwasu.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Working-with-Maternal-Alienation.Practitioner_Resource2.pdf

musefree verse

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Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 4:13 PM

CLANN — KIN FABLES [Full Album]

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 4:13 PM

https://youtu.be/q2r9smjuA2Q

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 4:10 PM

CLANN — Seelie [Full Album]

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 4:10 PM

https://youtu.be/jn6UB-jLblM

Ts Poetry

September 29, 2022 at 12:56 PM

What is one to do but offer love

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

I considered “Unseeking Seeker’s” comment on my previous poem, “The Morality Police”, which lead my mind to ponder on other groups of women in patriarchal societies, which pushed me gingerly towards the Amish. I had a phone conversation (actual voice .. ), with a friend of mine (female) up in Queensland some weeks ago, who recommended I watch “The Handmaid’s Tale” tv series. I have all of Margaret Atwood’s books on my shelves here (and she is a favourite author of mine, I was surprised to learn in re-visiting her works, she has written a number of poems); with the revolutionary protests by women occurring in Iran at present and around the world, I thought I’d commence watching Season 1 of The Handmaid's Tale (there are 5 seasons, links in notes under my poem) of The Handmaid’s Tale. Compelling to watch, I'd recommend reading the book as well.

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

By the time I concluded watching S1 ep 1, my thoughts triggered to maternal alienation and surrogacy. We often hear of paternal alienation (which relates to both men and women), but when one thinks of alienation between a parent and child, in the war ground of family law courts and the distegration of families, the idea of a parent being alienated from child, usually reverts to the man. Watching The Handmaid’s Tale, gives the viewer an idea of the dynamics between relationships of women who can and cannot have children (particularly obsessive covetousness, and possessiveness by a woman who cannot give birth to a child of her own to that of a woman who can) and it also relates to a child being taken from a mother, who loves her child and is a good mother... 'maternal' alienation.

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

It is a story that also relates to many issues, occuring in our world – the destruction of society and culture, religion, women's roles in society, their political/legal/religious voice, sexual orientation, rape, sex trafficking, surrogacy, revolution, genetic apartheid, DV (physical and emotional abuse) – a few issues that come to mind – but relevant to changes we have gone through and are currently witnessing at present. Perhaps I had a Plath moment with my poem, possibly a Sexton moment as well. Warning: "The Handmaid's Tale" (watching, or reading, but specfically watching), may trigger intense emotional response to trauma for some women (experiencing, or who have experienced maternal alienation).

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

Responding to your comment. True, but one reaches a stage where this makes perfect sense, “We can only ever be who we are – and at some point that has to be good enough”. If you are a good mother, you are a good mother. If you are a good human, you are a good human. Women are much stronger than many give us credit for, or for those of us who in our worst and lowest moments of grief, will still come through with the goods, for other females, including daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, peers. We are the vessels that carry and bring forth new life, we have the capacity and strength to deliver metamorphic change and destroy wars with courage and Love. Light always finds a way, and Love always wins, eventually.

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

It is interesting to note, Atwood has written many poems as well. I particularly like these two:

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

The Animals in that Country /poem, Margaret Atwood - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47791/the-animals-in-that-country

Lady Labyrinth

September 29, 2022 at 3:41 PM

Dream: Bluejay or Archeopteryx / poem, Margaret Atwood - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=31177