My glowing skin
Hides many pain patches
Carefully concealed
I’ve diminished my bruises
with a deft makeup brush
My delicate stride
Protects boils under my feet
Ringing slaps
silent under my
Silver anklets
Ridges of injustice
Remain unmasked
Under my trendy skirts
Marks of madness
Missed by neon fashions
Shivers zipped safe under
Extra large sweaters
Evidence of blue blows
Lurk under my fingernails
My red handshakes
Hide bloody burns
within intersecting palm lines
Alien thumb prints
Adorned by
Awkwardly angled bangles
The pull of power
Pinned within
Pretty rubber bands
The creases of my cuts
Spring out in my curls
Subtle resilience against soft hits
Feverish injuries
Are folded under my tongue
Salty tears stopped under contact lenses
Pink bruises pinioned under
Porcelain hugs
Muted shrieks surrender
to the rhythms of a cruel clock
My full smiles
Compensate for
Crooked teeth
The band-aid strip
Suckles my swollen wound
Silencing protest
Offering false comfort
Will you please rip it off
So I can scream
Copyright © Roshni Ramanan
My posting has been a little sporadic due to technological and medical issues and may continue to be until the end of June. Thank you for understanding.
stumble upon serendipity 
You touched the soul of pain.
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That’s incredibly kind! Happy blogging.
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Another beautiful poem Roshni. I hope and pray that all is well with you now 🤗
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Haha I’m doing really well. It’s a tribute for victims of abuse. Thank you for writing here and happy, happy blogging ☺️
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It wasn’t about the poem Roshni 😊 You had written something about medical and other challenges till June end ?
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Oh oh my bad 😂 Yes all that is sorted out. I’m healthy as can be. It honestly means tons that you asked. Thank you so very much!
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Awesome. Am so glad 🤗
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Thanks again. Have a wonderful day, Ashok 😀🎈
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Past present and future merging, but the future is hope 🙂
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Certainly. I appreciate your observation. Thank you. Good luck with your blog, Sir.
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I like what I see !!!I like poems
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Thanks a ton for writing here. Glad you do!
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Thanks too!!!can we plz know each other privately?
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Sure, I’d love to. You can email me here at luckyrosh5@gmail.com.
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Emotionally charged words. Your words had me cringing the next line, the next disheartening image. By the end, I felt numb.
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Glad you received the poem so well. Thank you so very much for leaving these kind words. It’s very gratifying!
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It’s so good!
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I appreciate the lovely comment. Thank you!
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Nicely written. 👍
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Thanks a lot, Jo. Have fun blogging.
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Excellent read and profound reflection of the dark side of life.
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I sincerely appreciate the read and comment. Have a blessed day!
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My pleasure!
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This is poignant, Roshni.
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That’s heartening to hear, Punam. Thanks a ton 🙂
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You are welcome, dear. ❤️
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people expect concealment, but bottled up pain needs more than screams, nice read. take care!
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Wonderfully said. I couldn’t agree more. Thank you so very much for the read and comment. Good luck!
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Well written. Touching work ❤️
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Very grateful to hear that. Thanks a lot, Tushara. Have a wonderful day 💙
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Profound! The pain throughout is felt
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That’s so heartening to hear, Muntazir. It’s every writer’s dream to evoke feeling. Thank you very much for writing here!
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The pleasure is all mine. Jazakallah Khair
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