“Deliverance” Watercolor on paper. Copyright 2012 Totsymae
She Said I Do
Couldn’t love him through the pain of hating himself and continue packing flesh-colored powder around the black and blues of what used to be a beautiful face. Laura stuffed grocery bags and rushed to the boys’ bedroom, where dry splatters of blood stained their walls from last week. Then, headlights came beaming through the window.
Her Last Thoughts
Never planned to lay dying at forty. Projects waited for her to complete them. She wondered if Clara, her only friend, had washed the dinner plates in the sink from days before. While the monster ate at her last breast, she imagined her last drink of wine, the glass rim stained with signature maroon lipstick.
The Choice
They paraded outside with signs, bantering with a sense of rage that she was vile for cutting the cord to life inside her. Noma wept inside and out, thinking of the baby that her step-father planted inside to swell up her thoughts, while her mother sat with folded arms and anger etched across her face.
I'm an artist who's writing,mothering, blogging and doing a few other things under the sun. I buy toilet paper 99.9% of every trip I make to the grocery store. I'm a people watcher, so I know you're here but drop me a line anyway.
We seem to all be on similar paths…this cracked my heart in half this morning.
I’m sorry. And I just read your last post, so I understand. I’m glad you’re here to share that story. Thanks for stopping by, Valentine.
I forgot to tell you how very much I love this particular watercolor.
Thanks, Valentine.
You are good Totsymae.. that’s for sure! excellent writing…
Thanks, Helen. I appreciate that so much.
That painting is stunning! Your words are beyond stunning! Breathtaking! Brava!
Thanks, Linda. That painting is one of my favorites.
You amaze and inspire me!
You’ve made me smile. Thank you for that.
These are all so compelling and so heart-breaking. I know these are stories that can be told over and over (just substitute the names), but aren’t there happier stories, too? What is it about writing that draws us to the pain?
These are issues currently in American politics. That’s what drew me.
And I also wonder … writing about pain is cathartic, is it not? Releasing?
Gottcha.
I love the painting — a woman breaking free. Hopefully, women everywhere will be able to do so as well. Someday.
Thank you. Someday soon, hopefully.
Wow, powerfully packing a punch!
Thanks, Jodi.
OMG Totsy… this stopped me dead in my tracks. So moving, both the painting and the words. You are one inspired, creative wise woman. xoxo
Hmmm…Thank you.
Like a bitter stew that has been boiled and distilled down to the smallest volume possible, the remaining broth is powerful, leaving quite an impressionable taste. Very powerful and stunning, Totsy.
Thanks, Phil.
Wow, I love that painting!! You write so well girl.
Thanks and thanks again, Vee.
Wise to keep the colors restricted yet varied in tone. Think unrelated colors would ruin the flow and detract. Re story it is for women to commensurate and comment here but this male understands.
Thanks, Carl and for understanding.
Read your words all the time. First time I felt so compelled to comment. Brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for commenting. Sorry for the tears.
Excellent, compelling. Well done. Do you find being away is giving you something different on home?
I think of the women here and feel more pity for them than I do for us, actually. I can only say so much about the last story and what happens here, you know. I look at them and I keep thinking “trapped.” There’s little, if any way, to get out of it.
Wow, wow, and wow. I’m 40. I’m not hiding any bruises though. Oh, my God, if only the abused women could blog, could be out here in this community, could see living & thriving a DIFFERENT world possible, to that where they are.
This was just excellent, in so few words.
http://www.VodkaWasMyMuse.wordpress.com (video diary of me stepping toward sobriety) & http://www.WordsFallFromMyEyes.wordpress.com
Thanks for the websites.
Unfortunate that these are the stories of some women and children. Makes me sad…
Your sadness, is mine too. I do not know why humans do as they do. But always in what happens, is the challenge to overcome and find ‘your life’. So with every damage is the opportunity of repair, regrowth and strengthening. Thank you so much for your comment
Nice painting…love the colors.
Thanks, Hansi.
First of all, Tots, you probably remember that I sometimes get blocked by institutional firewalls from directly interfacing on any article with the syllable “butt-” in its title. I really enjoyed reading the post, however, by clicking on your blog title and reading it as it appears in sequence with your other posts. If I were you, I would be imagining LOTS of folks naked under all those robes over there. What does this tell us about the law of physics applying here; you know, the one that mentions “equal and opposite effects resulting from equala and opposite forces”, etc.,etc. I would also be doing a LOT of sitting around eating, also!
Now, for this post here:Three very excellent 55 word stories expressing great pain in life and what it takes to “overcome”. The first and last story really reminded me of so many posts from blogging friends last month in April to honor Child Abuse Awareness Month and Violence Against Women Month. You accomplished several volumes’ worth in each of those 55 word stories.
Thanks, Granbee.
You are a mistress of succinctness, Tots! And your painting is top drawer. Again! Still!
Your kind words are most appreciated, Soul.
Totsy, no one delivers a punch like you do! Powerful stuff, lady. And this watercolor! Oh my goodness, it takes my breath away. You’ve captured her expression perfectly.
Thank you, Bella.
Totsy, you are such a brilliant artist. But your writing rivals your painting. This is so powerful! You knock me out!
You’re too nice, Linda. Tell Ms Monroe, that writer you like so much, I need her agent’s number. I wanna sit on my fanny all day and write for a living too.