Richard Lamoureux | + Follow Poet |
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Shunning Anorexia

You are not a member of our family
Therefore we choose to lock you outside our door
Banishishing you to never
Never again darken our door
Your emaciated hands have lost their strength 
The whispers you shout have fallen on deaf ears

We have always been stonger than you
Within your grip we have discovered our own resilience 
Losing our appetite for your false promises 
This pathway emerges beyond your darkness
Time deafens us to your whispers

For long enough we have been your domino effect
Feel our weight as we align ourselves against you
Our borders have been fortified
Consciencely built brick by brick
The mortar of our love extricating you from our spaces

Our new mosaic formed in light
New possibilities
Today is the beginning of this
This power
This life
This realization
That as you shrink
Our world enlarges
Until you are less 
Less than nothing
Replaced by freedom
The way we are meant to be
Empowered and filled
With an appetite for living


My wife is the team leader for an eating disorder program here in Kelowna.
I wrote this as a way to empower families to align together against the disorder.

www.wisedummypoet.com

Copyright © Richard Lamoureux | Year Posted 2014

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Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/24/2015 11:33:00 PM that is really commendable what your wife is doing, and this is a very powerful poem. Glad I am seeing it now on this winners' list. Congrats, Richard. you have a huge heart. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/25/2015 8:12:00 AM Thanks Andrea, I appreciate the comment.

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 7/24/2015 11:43:00 AM I remember reading and commenting on this one a while ago, and I'm glad to see it among the winners...it's interesting to see the many different takes on the contest theme - congrats on your win Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/25/2015 8:13:00 AM Thanks Charlotte.

Jan Allison Date: 7/23/2015 2:31:00 AM such a powerful poem Richard and your wife does an amazing job working with the families:-) hugs Jan xxx Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 7/23/2015 8:43:00 AM I've known students as young as 11 with the condition often brought about by unrealistic airbrushed images in the media - it is heartbreaking to see :-( hugs jan xx Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/23/2015 8:40:00 AM Thanks Jan I am proud of her.

Dr. Upma A. Sharma Date: 7/23/2015 1:20:00 AM Amazingly beautiful poem Richard, powerful words, congrats on big win! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/23/2015 8:40:00 AM Thanks Upma.

Skat A Date: 7/23/2015 12:25:00 AM Richard, Congratulations on your win, I was amazed by all poem. Forever **SKAT** Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 7/23/2015 8:41:00 AM Thanks SKAT.

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 10/28/2014 6:35:00 PM looking down through your list of poems this one caught my eye and I just had to read it; I know you said you wrote it to empower families, but when I read it I read it as the voices of those who have recovered and come out the other side, and I hope that one day I too am deaf to the whispers of the illness Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/29/2014 12:31:00 AM Thanks Charlotte, I hope your hearing is drawn to the strong voice I know you posses. There is a strength within you that surpasses the disorder.

Cecilia Macfarlane Date: 6/21/2014 7:40:00 PM A very powerful write Rick, so commendable of your wife to be helping others over come this tragic disorder. Excellent write! Hugs Login to Reply

Herzel Poshiwa Date: 6/20/2014 8:16:00 AM A disorder that takes a lot from our young teens these days, trying to leave by society's standards. Your wife is doing a great thing. Well written.... Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/20/2014 9:01:00 AM Thanks Herzel.

Verlena S. Walker Date: 6/12/2014 11:21:00 PM Well done Rick... I thought about anorexia when I was a teenage overcame the thought. But however... Verlena Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/13/2014 8:38:00 AM I'm glad you didn't have to experience the pain of this this disorder.

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 6/12/2014 3:52:00 PM What a hard-hitting write, Richard. "...as you shrink, our world enlarges" is the perfect way to describe this eating disorder. Just last night there was a movie on TV about a brother and sister with eating disorders. The brother hid his better and, after he died unexpectedly, the sister realized how dangerous this was. Bravo for your wife's efforts to eradicate anorexia. Love, Carolyn Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/13/2014 8:37:00 AM What was the name of the movie, I'm sure my wife would like to watch it. Thanks for your thoughtful visit Carolyn. Carolyn Devonshire Date: 6/12/2014 3:54:00 PM When I was in my 20s, my sister thought I had anorexia, but it was just ulcerative colitis that caused the weight loss. I KNEW I was too thin at 84 pounds as an adult.

Monterey Sirak Date: 6/12/2014 7:54:00 AM Well done! Anorexia is scary. Kudos to your wife and everyone who works against this illness. Login to Reply

Faye Gibson Date: 6/8/2014 6:51:00 PM Very good poem addressing a great need. I have known several young women who had eating disorders and did an intervention with one. Whether or not my actions helped, she is a healthy adult many years later. This is such a seductive killer. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/9/2014 1:21:00 AM Thanks Faye, it is good that you were able to help. I'm glad it was a good outcome.

Laura Breidenthal Date: 6/5/2014 9:26:00 PM I was impressed by this write. Amazing job : ) Always. Laura Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/6/2014 9:53:00 AM Thanks Laura

Shadow Hamilton Date: 6/5/2014 6:31:00 PM excellent pen highlighting the need to stand firm Rick well done hugs Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/6/2014 9:53:00 AM Thanks Shadow.

Sarai Virden Date: 6/4/2014 11:14:00 PM Always enjoy reading the creativity that flows from you Rick... Well done. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/5/2014 8:04:00 AM I appreciate your visits.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/4/2014 3:42:00 PM a very powerful poem with a great message to inspire those who suffer from it directly or indirectly. how awesome that your wife is helping people to fight this disease in your community Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/5/2014 8:06:00 AM It is more pervasive than most people realize. I am very proud of the work that my wife does. Thanks for reading and commenting Andrea.

Kim Van Breda Date: 6/4/2014 1:55:00 PM Hi Richard--- response right here :) This is a powerful and sensitive write. All woman should know they were created perfectly in God's image. The mediaforces unrealistic expectations that mess with our minds. Insignificant opinions of others add to that insecurity. Been there myself.. as I am sure have most woman to a certain degree. Thanks for sharing. Xx~Xx Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/5/2014 8:07:00 AM Reading this comment has made writing the poem worthwhile. Thanks!

Eileen Manassian Date: 6/4/2014 1:05:00 PM A worthy cause of Mary to be involved in. Aligning against the disorder...powerful. Login to Reply Eileen Manassian Date: 6/4/2014 1:13:00 PM Richard...PLEASE...stay on for five minutes. I'm JUST posting a poem. YOU MUST READ IT! Richard Lamoureux Date: 6/4/2014 1:12:00 PM Thanks Eileen, I was wondering if I missed the mark with this one. There has not been much response, perhaps I am losing my touch. Thanks for being the first to comment.