Poetry as an outlet: Blows
Putting in to words
Esméralda Puairau, from Faa'a, Tahiti, is a specialised child protection educator. She regularly has to deal with violence and the suffering it brings to families. Writing is her release. She uses her pen to express herself freely and restore hope through the written word.
Recently I realised that it was my grandfather who gave me this social conscience. Writing these stories is a way for me to liberate my own words.
We need a space where we can put into words the people we meet and the things we experience. I would love this writing to be read and shared, because lots of people read something and say to themselves “Hey, that’s my life, my situation, my husband, my child, that’s me, that’s my sister they’re talking about”. So yes, I would very much like to spread these messages. I think it’s like starting a social connection - you feel less alone as a human being. So, if they could be read, I think they would do people good, I’m sure of it in fact!
This poem is called “Blows”. I wrote it while thinking about a particularly violent mother, who was also very skilful at concealing this streak from the institutions we represent: justice, social and health. Except that, out there in the community, there were people who had seen her abuse.
Esméralda Puairau, from Faa'a, Tahiti, is a specialised child protection educator. She regularly has to deal with violence and the suffering it brings to families. Writing is her release. She uses her pen to express herself freely and restore hope through the written word.
Recently I realised that it was my grandfather who gave me this social conscience. Writing these stories is a way for me to liberate my own words.
We need a space where we can put into words the people we meet and the things we experience. I would love this writing to be read and shared, because lots of people read something and say to themselves “Hey, that’s my life, my situation, my husband, my child, that’s me, that’s my sister they’re talking about”. So yes, I would very much like to spread these messages. I think it’s like starting a social connection - you feel less alone as a human being. So, if they could be read, I think they would do people good, I’m sure of it in fact!
This poem is called “Blows”. I wrote it while thinking about a particularly violent mother, who was also very skilful at concealing this streak from the institutions we represent: justice, social and health. Except that, out there in the community, there were people who had seen her abuse.
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