WILLA v6 - Violation Crude

VIOLATION CRUDE

Pamela E. Hartsock

Alone she lies exposed

Thin gown hiked up swollen waist

Legs open like a turkey waiting to be sliced

Loving voyeurs with snap shot flashes

Make ooing sounds as if watching some

acrobatic feat.

The pain crescendoes until violins

Scream in her ears.

Bearing down she marvels at strippers able to

smoke cigarettes from this part of their body

Flushing the head is crowned

Knife flashes quick its thorny blade

Wet waxy perfection placed in her arms

The only pain now the gentle pulling of the needle

She memorizes each detail

This more reverent than communion.

Drunk with the fullness of this moment

Could she have misunderstood the words coming

from Doctor lips?

Glib knowing words to husband pull bones from

her body

The last suture closing the gaping cavern

"This last stitch is for you."

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Pamela Hartsock writes with and teaches language arts to seventh graders. Besides writing and reading, she plays flute in a local symphony, teaches chorus, and is a parent (her greatest joy and challenge). Her poem began as a "painful" memory and developed into a poem after festering for 15 years.

 

© 1997 The Women in Literature and Life Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English (ISSN #1065-9080). Permission is given to copy any article provided credit is given and the copies are not intended for resale.

Reference Citation: Hartsock, Pamela E. (1997). "Violation Crude." WILLA, Volume VI, p. 17.