Connie Marcum Wong Poet Narrative

Sounds of the Day

Morning sounds wake sleepy heads in beds.
A thud against the wall...daddy's home, drunk!
Mommy must have given him that mommy look!
Sis and I rush to help mommy off the floor as
daddy flops across the bed with his shoes on
smelling of stale beer and cigarette's stench.

Mommy is too dizzy to finish fixing our sandwiches
of baloney for our brown bag lunch. With one punch
he laid her flat again. When will his cruelty end?
Tomorrow is Parent Teacher conferences but
they both won't show up... again. They never do.

Mean taunts from ugly kids at school, we don't listen.
We watch the clock on the classroom wall that ends
with a clattering of noisy chatter and beat up books being
joyously slammed closed then shoved into back packs
as the bell loudly rings announcing the school days end.

We walk slowly home together with dulled anticipation
to the empty sounds of no one home to greet us.
The television's voice is a welcoming distraction that
elevates our spirits with happy kids in family shows.

The best thing about T.V. dinners is no dishes to wash.
Mommy comes home from work at the diner after dark
still sporting dark sunglasses to hide daddy's shiner.
The last sounds of the day comes from mommy's singing us
old songs she remembers from her youthful years at home.

6-17-16
Connie Marcum Wong
Poem of the Day June 21, 2016
N/A

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Tom Arnone August 8, 2016 at 11:19 PM Powerful subject matter. Held my interest, Connie. :-)

Judy Ball July 7, 2016 at 7:52 PM WoW! What a sad tale this is. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the way we grew up and the problems we dealt with that we don't realize that there were others who would have gladly changed places with us. A seven from me my friend and I truly hope this is not a memory from your own childhood. God Bless, JB Connie Marcum Wong August 8, 2017 at 2:08 PM It certainly is not. I was raised only by my mother. Thank you Judy. ; )

Ravi Sathasivam July 4, 2016 at 1:43 AM Excellent. Powerful write. Enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing it.

Daver Austin July 3, 2016 at 11:46 AM Sad situations. I taught school for over 30 years in inner city Saginaw and know of many such conditions. What is POTD? I hear I won it whatever it is. Love, daver Connie Marcum Wong July 3, 2016 at 7:59 PM It is Poem of the day daver. There is al s o POTW...Poem of the week! Thank you daver. ; )

Bl Devnath July 3, 2016 at 10:16 AM Very sad story drawn with a very passionate pen. Such things happen in many families all over the world. Sound of brutality will never end, i feel. Congratulation on having your poem featured my lovely friend. Loved always, bl Connie Marcum Wong July 3, 2016 at 8:01 PM Thank you very much BL. Parenting should be taught in schools. I think it would help a lot. ; )

James Tate July 2, 2016 at 7:52 PM Connie, your story poem drives home a sad, and too frequent event in too many cases. You have displayed the anguish of the wife and the children resulting from a weak drinking man. Well written. Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 8:35 PM Thank you very much James. Happy fourth of July weekend! Cheers ; )

Jack Horne July 2, 2016 at 5:38 PM wow, such a powerful write here, my friend. I hope you're having a great weekend Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 8:34 PM Thank you Jack. Happy fourth of July! ; )

Winged Warrior July 2, 2016 at 4:25 AM Excellent narrative Connie...the sounds of a winner...congrats!!!...when is the movie coming out? lol...god bless...^WW^ Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 4:01 PM Thank you WW. I appreciate that! ; )

Vera Duggan July 2, 2016 at 12:30 AM Hi Connie, this poem is true to life in a lot of cases, In fact I have come across a couple of families like this, there are some sick men and women out there, I bet you have struck a nerve with a few people out there, the world should read this because you really tell it as it is, well done, take care.........Vera Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 1:59 AM Thank you for such an insightful comment Vera. It is easy for people to give advice, tell the abused person to just leave, but I think when you are in a hopeless situation such as this, there is so much more than which is on the surface to be considered. Blessings, Connie ; )

CayCay Godwin July 1, 2016 at 9:42 PM I never found this gem until tonight and I am very impressed with it. I think we all eventually know someone who was raised this way, not to mention how many have personally experienced it. I like the 3rd person device, it added a raw and youthful element of sorrow to an already deeply sad subject. Ya done good, girl ... CayCay Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 2:06 AM It is so nice to hear from you CayCay. Thank you for your insightful comment my friend. I haven't been around much the past week. Blessings, Connie ; )

Harry Horsman June 29, 2016 at 7:28 AM Wow telling it as it is for some, and you tell it oh so well, glad i have seen this... Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 2:04 AM Thank you very much Harry! ; )

Andrea Dietrich June 28, 2016 at 8:03 PM well, POTD says it all, sweetie. You rock!! Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2016 at 2:03 AM Thank you Andrea. I think I owe it to you faving this poem. I appreciate your kindness my friend! ; )

Andrea Dietrich June 26, 2016 at 10:26 AM Connie, did this make the winners' list. If not, it should have!! And wow, poem of the day. SO deserving of it. Congrats for that. Connie Marcum Wong June 27, 2016 at 1:18 PM No, it got an N/A. Thank you so much for the encouragement Andrea. I appreciate it very much. Hugs, Connie ; )

Arthur Vaso June 26, 2016 at 1:33 AM One of the best poems I have read on this topic, makes me sad to think this is reality for some, thanks or shining light on this issue! Connie Marcum Wong June 26, 2016 at 3:27 AM Thank you very much Arthur. It is very sad but a reality for many. Blessings, Connie : )

Demetrios Trifiatis June 25, 2016 at 4:10 PM Profound writing that was rightly rewarded! Congratulations dear, Connie! Connie Marcum Wong June 26, 2016 at 3:27 AM Thank you very much Demetrios. I appreciate your nice visit! : )

Joanna Daniel June 22, 2016 at 4:05 AM Congratulations on Poem Of The Day, Connie:) Well deserved:) Connie Marcum Wong June 26, 2016 at 3:28 AM Thank you very much Jo. : )

Ravi Sathasivam June 22, 2016 at 2:31 AM Excellent. Very deep thoughts. Enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing it. Connie Marcum Wong June 26, 2016 at 3:29 AM Thank you very much Ravi. Blessings, Connie : )

Chris Hagy June 21, 2016 at 3:58 PM Is this your childhood?...If so I'm sorry. I was a teenage victim of what I can only call domestic insanity, and I know how hard it is. I think it made us better writers though and stronger people. Congrats on poem of the day! Connie Marcum Wong June 21, 2016 at 4:15 PM I agree with you. Many kids raised in my era had to deal with situations like these. I used poetic license to switch things around but I did have a dysfunctional family growing up. Thank you. ; )

Anne-Lise Andresen June 21, 2016 at 12:47 PM - Congratulations, Connie - hugs Connie Marcum Wong June 26, 2016 at 3:28 AM Thank you Anne-Lise. : )

Sandra Haight June 21, 2016 at 9:53 AM Oh, Connie...so sad and deep, but oh so true for many I am sure. Your poem brings the pain the mom and kids suffer to life with your imagery. Congratulations on your poem being honored as 'Poem of the Day'! Hugs, 7 Sandra

James Inman June 21, 2016 at 8:10 AM A deep write, so sad.

Charlie Smith June 21, 2016 at 7:06 AM Sadly well done Marcum, congratulations on POTD honors...

Matthew Anish June 20, 2016 at 3:50 PM You tell a sad tale very vividly. Hope this has not been your reality and that this is fiction. Peace & Love Matthew Anish Connie Marcum Wong June 21, 2016 at 4:10 PM Thank you Mathew. I had humble beginnings. I took some poetic license for this write. Cheers, Connie; )

Carrie Richards June 20, 2016 at 2:36 PM Wow, Connie.....I can't belive this poem wasn't high on the winner's list. Sadly, it was indeed dark, but terribly real to so many who have grown up in an atmosphere leaden with the fallout of stories just like this. You deserve a #7, and more! Connie Marcum Wong June 21, 2016 at 4:07 PM Thank you Carrie. Having it awarded POTD certainly make up for it not making the winner's list. ; )

Paul Callus June 20, 2016 at 11:59 AM An excellent and meaningful narrative, Connie. What a life! The sad part is that very often the victims find it hard to move away from this abusive situation. Thank you for sharing and raising awareness. I had some ex-pupils of mine like this; not easy to take action. #7+ Regards // paul Connie Marcum Wong June 20, 2016 at 1:21 PM Thank you very much Paul I appreciate that. Hugs, Connected e

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