I wish you'd never been born
you're useless
moron, I've told you a thousand times
you disgust me
get out of my sight
have you seen yourself
ugly
what are you, deaf, dumb, and blind
you'll never amount to anything
you're nothing now
straight A's, ha
you're just showing off
can't tell your ass from a hole in the ground
stupid is as stupid does
idiot, I've raised an idiot
I'll never understand you
stupid cow
get out of my sight
you are the worst, the absolute worst
you've ruined everything
I hope you live a long unhappy life
whore
you'll never be anything but a whore
you were the ruination of my life
as far as I'm concerned
you don't exist
I never want to see your face again, ever!
© Yolanda Renée 2021
Photo by Zika Radosavljevic on Unsplash
Whoever it was who said 'Stick and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me' was an unmitigated liar. Most of us wear at least some scars from a tongue lashing. And sadly they are precisely the type of words that many freedom of speech advocates want to be free to use.
ReplyDeleteDay in and day out by both parents leaves a child forever broken!
DeleteHi Yolanda - that was most definitely a horrific post for this prompt. Well done - I really felt it ... I hope he rots in hell. Now I'll not be able to forget it for the rest of the day or probably longer - excellent take ... Hilary
ReplyDeleteThe worst party in this story is a woman. Some were never meant to be called Mother.
DeleteGreat entry. Words can definitely hurt, as your post for ths prompt shows. Thanks for sharing t.
ReplyDeleteThe freedom to speak doesn't mean all words should be spoken. Thanks, Natalie!
DeletePowerful. Horrifying and powerful!
ReplyDeleteIt is isn't it. Thanks, Jemi!
DeleteSome words should never be spoken. This poem reached into the deepest places in my heart.
ReplyDeleteMine too, Olga. Thank you!
DeleteTragic, that some say all those things to their children still. My husband was told he was never wanted. In fact, that was one of the first things his mother said to me. I couldn't believe it.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Exactly, those words and worse. Thanks, Nancy.
DeleteWords are powerful, and they can wound deeply. This is a haunting piece. I feel for whomever is on the receiving end of such cruelty.
ReplyDeleteWounds that are almost impossible to heal. Thanks, Laura!
DeleteIt wouldn't take long for the recipient of this verbal abuse to give up on him/herself, would it? Either that or they'd go on to be a mighty force in the world.
ReplyDeleteI hope its the latter. Thanks, Lee!
DeleteThat is exactly how you abuse the freedom to speak or rather all the liberties you have. It's a different way of looking at the prompt. And it hits hard.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sonia. I thought so.
DeleteMy heart just broke for the daughter. How does a mother do this to her own child??
ReplyDeleteYou manage to pack so much into such a small word count. A unique and excellent take on the prompt.
Thank you, Nila. Her own pain, I think?
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis is rejection pure. Sometimes we forget that the words that come out of our mouths are prophetical and can leave a lasting stain because they effect our destiny.
Shalom aleichem
Yes, and a harsh lesson for a child. Thanks, Pat!
DeleteSuch awful behaviour, unfortunately these things do go on behind closed doors.
ReplyDeleteMore often than it should!
DeleteWhat awful things to say to a child, regardless. A potent take on the dangers of free speech. Well done, Yolanda.
ReplyDeleteSome words should never be spoken to a child. thank you, Christopher.
DeleteOh Renee, you've touched a chord with this one. How many children are ruined through careless, hateful words from a parent? Too many. The power of parental utterances which come from a hateful heart.
ReplyDeleteA damaged heart for sure. Thanks, Denise.
DeleteHow awful. The Germans call slander and libel "reputation murder". That about some it up! Thank you for this powerful entry.
ReplyDeleteCarole
The murder of confidence for sure. Thank you, Carole.
DeletePowerful words. My heart weeps because I know how it feels.
ReplyDeleteMy heart hurts that you know this! Thank you, Christine!
DeleteStinging words, sure to affect any child subjected to such abuse! Hopefully, they have the strength to overcome their upbringing. Such a profound piece, Yolanda. It definitely touched a nerve.
ReplyDeleteFaith was the answer here. Still is. Thank you, Debbie.
DeleteWords do hurt worse than sticks and stones.
ReplyDeleteVery much! And the results don't show until years later. Thanks, Jamie!
DeleteHow hurtful can a mother’s words get….you nailed it Yolanda. Great poem. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Susan!
DeleteI remember those words. Originally, they were being yelled at me in a language I didn't know. But later there was someone else with me who did know. Finding out the translations didn't help. Or maybe it did, because that was when I realized I had to get myself out. Anyway, it's a cruelness used to try to break someone, to create a victim. Some villains really will come right right out and show you that they're evil.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you heard them at all, but yes, some villains do! Thanks J Lenni, appreciate your words!
DeleteWell I finally got around to reading this and it shook me. Very powerful indeed and I love how you have implied how freedom of speech for one can cause great harm to someone else - as others have commented here, 'Sticks and stones...' We can't just vomit out our thoughts and if these are the thoughts going through his head, well, he needs to have his head examined.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kalpana. Your words mean the world to me!
Delete