Red Polish

Story/Poem based on true events.

To you, my guardian of time, with long white hair, olive skin and eyes like the abyss.

 I found a small broken glass bottle, leaking red and inhaled at the age of six. She sat on the hot concrete, under the warm Caribbean sun painting away preparing for this day.  So naïve to the consequence or purposely ignoring the risk, she worked transfixed.

 It was as if her spirit took complete control and she was simply watching diligently as this small and fragile girl sat legs crossed, gently gliding the wet thick redness over each nail, ignoring the cost.  

It felt familiar, almost instinctive, with each stroke she found security. Her world was filled with ugliness and here she found some beauty. Did it rise up from beneath the hot earth or was it cast down from the heavens along with the pelting rain?  But like the murky stream her cares ran down the drain.

These  grounds were like graves, daily she would bury her tears it seems. They would grow like vines along the walls and against barred windows that echoed her hopes and dreams. The metal gates  bolted with chains and locks were meant to keep the "ungodly" at bay. Yet somehow inside this prison where a purposeful soul dies…a small bottle with red polish found its way.

Why do we climb to the very top…only to fall never to fly?

Why is it a struggle to be human, to be loved?

Why is the cost so high?

 

To combat painful strikes for this sin, she became numb. Facing monsters with human features, she was so young. Yet in her I found no hate, she managed to keep that sweet state. Their inflictions left her flesh permanently scarred. But her spirit they could not touch, her heart could not be barred.

Their words rendered her useless and weak but at the age of six 

I sat there, quiet, steady and fixed.

 Now do you see? This was me...

on the concrete floor under the Caribbean sun, painting red boldly, fearlessly, becoming free.

-MeleciaG 2014 

Author's Note

Please leave comments, suggestions. Be courteous and kind:) thanks.

Reviews

[Desiree B.]

Nice poem,

Seems like you were implying freedom behind bars (which is suppose to take freedom away from a person). I enjoyed the imagery and emotion in your verse. :)

[Mel Lisa]

Thank you! the poem was about a girl who is imprisoned by strict religious zealots. who she lives with, who abuses her. she never knew the outside world until something from that world (red polish which is forbidden in that religious house/ prison for a girl to wear nail polish, red polish at that!) made its way into her "ugly" world...which sets in motion her freedom. "metal gates bolted and chained meant to keep the "ungodly" at bay". She is in prison, physically and mentally. she found freedom behind bars. by being bold and fearless which is the beginning of mental freedom:)

[Desiree B.]

Wow that is awesome! A thoughtful story behind a stunning verse. Keep up the great work. :D

[RichGee]

Wow...amazing piece...such sadness but with hope.
Brilliant art.

[Mel Lisa]

thank you so much for taking time to read this and to review. appreciate it very much!

[RichGee]

My pleasure

[Derekv]

This is an amazing poem! Nice visual imagery. Keep up the good work!

[Mel Lisa]

Thank you so much for your feed back. Much appreciated:)