The gatekeeper was replaced when the final page turned
Bloodless shadow now seeping through
to eat away at light that was already dying
long before these hands came to rattle the bars of the cage
voiceless, screaming to be set free
from storybook lands turned to nightmare
This once enchanted forest
now a home to something from the deep
out of passages once barricaded
Coming slowly to feed on those who raise their hands
in worship of the creeping death
who give themselves to shadow and a hope for corruption
to become one with decay
and live in this lost paradise as idols carved from waking death
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What’s the worst job you ever had?
—
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The Light is On 
6 responses to “Voiceless, Screaming”
Great poem, I relate to voiceless screaming. My worst job was short–5 months as matron in a police department. Made for a continuing love-hate regard for the folks in blue, unfortunately…
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Oh wow, when did you do that? Probably gives you a very interesting perspective!
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It’s a horror story…it was the summer of 1981 or ’82. I got hired because I was 25 and very pretty, and had taken one Police Science course in college. (I was also excellent at typing mistake-free reports–one of which involved me accompanying a patrol officer to a rape call, to take the victim’s statement–because there were no female officers.)
The sexual harassment was significant–which explains my short 5-month tour. The chief’s secretary knew things I didn’t about a specific officer–who preyed on female personnel, and had caused at least one other matron to leave town in the middle of the night. She advised me to speak to the chief–which did not go well. The officer in question skated each time. After I left, the one detective who sided with me privately but was too chicken to stand up publicly–told me that, rather than penalize the officer, the new department policy came down: NO young, attractive women would ever be hired again for that position. I bet you wish you hadn’t asked 🙂 And probably it would be prudent to delete this after you read, thanks.
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Wow, I’m incredibly sorry you had to go through that. Seems the problems that we’re facing today with police around the nation are deep seated and come from long habits. I wouldn’t blame you if you want to remove this, but at the same time I do think it is important that people hear stories like this, that these things are brought out publicly so that no one is allowed to skirt justice and remain above the law–especially those who are sworn to uphold it. Hope you’re doing well!
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It’s on your blog, so whether it’s deleted is up to you–if you think it’s helpful to leave it up, fine. I don’t have much faith in the #metoo movement.
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My worst job was a locker attendant at a water park. I handed people the keys to their lockers. It was one of the easiest and yet most boring jobs in existence.
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