The Love She's Never Known

The Love She’s Never Known

mark teague July 31, 2014

When she was but a child,

Those whose task it was to teach her Life and Love

Praised instead a prettier sibling, ignoring her gifts,

Thus teaching her that Life is Pain, and Love is Shame

 

Then when she was a teen,

Those whose call it was to teach her to trust in God’s Love

Smote her innocent heart with rulers of Steel and Scripture,

Thus teaching her that Life is Fear, and Love is Guilt.

 

When only Sadness and Madness are shown,

When comparison and insult only are thrown,

We cannot wonder, or be surprised

Why, with trembling voice and doubting eyes,

She fears to reach out for The Love She’s Never Known.

 

When she became a young wife,

He whose privilege it was to Love her all her Life

Spat back what she offered in trusting Love

Thus proving for her that Life is Misery and Love a cruel Myth

 

 

 

And now that she is a woman full grown,

Those whose honor it would be to bless her Life with Love

Find themselves stymied, resisted and doubted,

Since Love has brought her little but anxiety and sorrow,

And those who proffered it were ever proven Liars.

 

Now a Man  into her Life has  blown

Who seeks to free her Heart of stone�"

He, too, is rebuffed and oft distressed,

Yet never doubts that Tenderness will reward his Quest:

To Gift her Life with The Love She’s Never Known.

 

Will she, CAN she welcome into her chest

That Troubadour? Can he ever pass her test,

And bless both their Lives with The Love She’s Never Known ?

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I am this daughter, this child, this teen, this woman. In every aspect, I am this woman. It took many years of personal healing to allow myself to open my heart and love fully and completely. Regrettably, the one and only time that this happened, my loving heart ended up being hurt in the process. I have prayed for God to send another great love into my life, but this has yet to happen. Knowing and tasting the sweet fruit of love, I cannot settle for anything less. So, for me, it's all or nothing; and without it, I have accepted that I will probably be alone. I'm okay with that. It's better to have the memories than nothing at all.

[lessa (kenzie)]

this is such a brilliant and an moving piece, you have captured so any feelings with this write.
i can really feel this write.

[S. Allison (Ferrante) S..]

Yes, she can! Beautiful, powerful, climactic, troubling and true. To ignore the gifts of any child is a shame, to rule the innocent with iron bars and rule without love is harsh and it does produce guilt (unlike shame)... When you're only seen by those whom you love, as nothing more than a reason for complaint or ignorance, it is hard to imagine life without it... You almost become addicted to being a victim and NOT by choice. With care, kindness, poise and patience, I believe anyone can be brought to learn the "love they've never known." It takes a lot of work. Nice write.

[SM Davis]

Striking that the author's vantage point has seen so keenly into the vulnerable and trauma-disturbed childhood of a young girl. Very well done.

[Isabella Ivy]

A true, a brilliant, a moving piece. Yea you, Mark, for penning it. (Please excuse me if I leave off ratings, as I have not yet learned the ropes.) I.I.

[Philip Muls]

You capture some hard truths here. To be able to trust is very important even when that trust gets abused. Better not get distrustful yourself or cynical. Than all is lost.

[Phibby Venable]

Great depth & insight, Mark

[Terpsichore]

This is very insightful. There are so many in life who suffer in such a way.
'Once bitten, twice shy,' they say, a simple phrase that encompasses so much. Patience is the key. T.

[Mark]

These two poems you've reviewed today are my most recent, the first in over a year. Thank you for your gracious, heartfelt comments.

[David Lewis Paget]

A very sombre piece, Mark, imbued with wisdom. Unfortunately, those crusaders who do attempt to take on board damaged goods such as she, frequently walk away with their fingers burnt. I should know, it happened to me. David.

[Cryingkate]

But Aren't we all damaged goods?

[Cryingkate]

:-) ..........

[Cryingkate]

Bulls-eye ! dead center, straight from many hearts.

I have some advice on this matter in case it is a true endeavor.
Don't smother her with Love, for that's like reliving prick-full pains.
I would advice the best way to love is to be that love yet let her come to you.
Somehow find the way for her to want to come to you.

Sometimes it can be a painful reminder being loved.. They are all alike syndrome....
Being her best friend could do miracles.
Just my thoughts... :-)

[Mark]

To have the insights of a poem written BY a man, ABOUT a woman's heart, subsequently endorsed BY a woman is the highest praise I can imagine, Kate. Thank you so VERY much. I am infrequently here, or for that matter on th Web at all these ays, but i shall earnestly try to reciproKate as soon as possible. Thanks again!

[Cryingkate]

Mark,
My heart fills with joy and I have the biggest smile on my face every time I see your face on this screen :-). You have a special light that shines thru even on this machine.
When I first met you and saw thru your writings of the most wonderful relationship you and your Mother have, i was changed and touched in a deep way.
My words can't explain it well but that relationship has a powerful energy that radiates alot of love and healing into the world.
Somehow it heals me too. I guess I must confess. I can relate to other woman.

With that said and my previous comment I come to understand this morning after meditating on this thread. That Yes.. when we share anything with anyone we share more then we know.
We really do share hearts and spirits and thoughts etc...
Who we hang around becomes us.
Though we never met and don't know each other, I trust you with all my heart and soul . It is because you have shared that love between you and Mom.
Your Mom must be one great Lady to have built that bond and respect from you.

With that said, I see that bond is a gift to be shared and spread with the world and it is shared and given to anyone who sees and witnesses it.

If it works for me then it will work for the other lady I am sure.
Now I see what can help the other woman heal and trust and still be that way for her to come to your love instead of you trying to offer it to her and her be afraid of it.
Bring her home to MOM.... Let her witness how real love works and she will learn in her soul about Love and trust. She will be drawn to that light on her own. When she sees your love and respect for Mom she will crave that for herself and Mom will teach her soul without trying just how a woman can love back, How to open a heart and trust.
Writing my last few lines gave me goosebumps and tears. when that happens , I know I am speaking the Spiritual truth.
Wow ! I bet you didn't even know what you have. What a gift... Surely we are describing here, What the power of Love is and how it works.
Thank you for your writings and giving me a chance to meet you and learn and witness this awesome truth. this is how we are all suppose to spread love. Not forcing it on others but just being that love and light.

till we meet again :-) Thank You !

[Mark]

Though I am sitting in the Denny's as I read this, I am nevertheless misty-eyed at your overt and sincere praise. It was in quest of reviews and comments such as this that first brought me to the world of writing, for as a fat child and a precocious teen, I got precious little, and therefore learned to think and speak well of myself, rather than do without altogether. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Cryingkate]

Well now I'm crying with you :-) Give Ma a hug from me too ...:-)