25 Comments
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Edward Swafford's avatar

Vivid.

I don't pick up on passerby body language, I'm "blind" to it, I guess.

Time to take notice.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you.

I spent years commuting on trains wearing noise cancelling headphones to keep out the noise. When you don’t hear the words, the body language speaks very loudly.

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Jaap STIJL's avatar

very powerful!

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you.

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Nick Winney's avatar

really powerful and speaks too truthfully to be invention.

its so sad to see the suffering wrought on good people here but also hopeful that it brings out art and awareness.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you, Nick.

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Claire Kelly's avatar

Just want to say 💜... so much power in this. You're taking it back.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you so much, Claire. I like to think so!

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Debdutta Pal's avatar

I feel the sunset blaze, and it's a gloriously powerful thing. This was something else.

I see it too (around me) - a flinch, and a downward cast glance.

Makes the hair on my nape stand up.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you. It’s (very sadly) too common to see, once you pay attention.

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Marcia Abboud's avatar

This one tore at my gut, Zivah. 💔 Haunting...

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you, Marcia.

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Emika Oka's avatar

Indeed, we must try to exorcise that darkness. Powerful piece, Zivah.

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𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬's avatar

Wow. Really powerful poetry. You definitely won 🖤

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you!

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Ral Joseph's avatar

If only, if only Ziva...

They are told us it was all going to be like this, the really should have made us understood that love and life can be this cruel. If only.

Your poem completely melted my heart. I haven't seen anything this passionate and loud ever ❤️

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Nancy Santos's avatar

Zivah! This is so damn powerful, I’m just sorry it’s the result of truth. The clench and release you mention in your notes. I’ve seen that. Fucking eggshells.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you, Nancy. But I won. And I’ll keep on winning.

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Nancy Santos's avatar

I know you will!

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Kay Stratton's avatar

Every time I read another woman’s story my throat chokes — sending love to you and thanking you for your strength in sharing. ❤️❤️❤️

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Sandolore Sykes's avatar

Oh no! Zivah! Wow… yes, burst this toxic blister and get its venom all the fuck out of you!

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Toxic blister… what a brilliant description. Complete with pus.

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Jill Eng's avatar

My heart bled for you while reading this. I am beyond sad you had to endure such abuse. It is fantastic poetry--as you can't get away from that. But it's beauty doesn't overshadow or dismiss the message you relay... and the trauma.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Thank you, dearest Jill. This was a long time ago now, and in a way it feels like it happened to somebody else. Not in a disassociative way, but just because of time and how different I am, and my life is, now.

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Jill Eng's avatar

its

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