Jump to content

Poetry as an outlet: In a prison

Play
Episode 15
2 min / Published

 

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!

The title of this poem is “In a prison”, and I was inspired to write it by the many women I have met in my job as a specialised educator. In my writing, it is often their words that you will find.

Episode ratings
Please log in or sign-up to rate this episode.
This episode is part of the Putting it into words. series
Poems, songs and documentaries to better remove taboos about abuse
The voice of resilience and respect: Te Faatura
A podcast by En Terre Indigene
“Speaking out for Resilience and Respect” is a toolkit for women who have been victims of domestic violence and is designed to better support them during their efforts to rebuild their lives.
Episode comments

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
What do you think about this episode? Leave a comment!

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×

Important Information

By using this website, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.