Cassandra Jones' poem, "Refuse To Cry"

I want to highlight a poem by a poet who writes straight from the heart and soul and who also helps advocate with her poems against domestic violence, plus who encourages others in domestic violence situations to remain strong. This poem is wonderful and truly can help to encourage to others, I think. The poem is titled "Refuse to Cry" and is by Cassandra Jones. It is below:

Refuse To Cry


I am stronger,

than you think.

You thought,

I would just sink.




Into a lonely,

sea of despair.

Lost and scared,

with no one to care.




Guess you don't,

really know me.

Unlike you,

I can see.




The strength,

I have inside.

The tears,

I won't let slide.




In the past,

I wouldn't try.

You'd anticipate,

that I would cry.




I won't give,

into your drama.

In the end,

you'll be hit with karma.




You won't drag me,

to your level.

My life won't

be disheveled.




You don't get,

the benefit of the doubt.

You found,

your way out.




Thanks to you,

I don't have to try.

Now that you're gone,

I refuse to cry.

Showcasing a poem by a writer I admire

As those of you who have been following my blog know, I have been writing about writers I admire. And today, I just had to post not about a writer I admire this time, but to post a poem by a writer I Admire with whom I'd done a guest blog and about whom I'd already written within this blog. The poem is titled "Revengeful Panther," and it's by a writer I admire named Lena Winfrey Seder. Her poem is amasing, as is its title that is perfectly fitting with the subject of the poem, plus it expresses as though from the eyes of an abusive person, in affect, making this poem a wonderful tool in helping raise awareness about domestic abuse and about how an abusive person can think and be. This poem is below:

REVENGEFUL PANTHER



The black panther awaits deep in the dark forest.

Watching quietly to catch prey that is too bold,

He hates his disgraceful acts, but can find no rest.

Life’s experiences have made him old.

He skillfully sharpens his claws, his best defense.

Striking out at the world in desired revenge.

Around his ice-cold heart remains a barbed-wire fence.

Frightening others with mean looks that make them cringe,

Teeth grinding and heart aching from flames as he waits.

What or who does he wait for? He doesn’t even know.

He tries to avoid others’ jagged traps and baits.

Playing this chess game and escaping Cupid’s bow,

Afraid of love, he only thinks of survival.

The smiling mask he wears hides his salty tears.

He received scars before from a former rival.

Pain, never forgotten, carried through all the years.

Revenge, his bitter-sweet passion, stabs like a knife.

When will he forgive to start a happy new life?