A Rose Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

A rose by any other name wouldn't bear the pain of a lifetime
within such a fragile framework.
Abusive husband, tantamount to a dictator, yet he should have
been loving, compassionate, caring, to such a gentle woman.
Living in hell with no escape, trapping herself and all her
children in a solitary cell called marriage.
A husband cementing a child's past with her future, not
wanted nor loved - illegitimate - according to others.
Wanting to be loved for herself, a gentle child, scorned by
her mother, scarred for life.
Finding out at age sixteen that her grandmother was really
her mother - it shook her to the core of her being, as
even now she shakes with the memory of it.
Always trying to be noticed, a good-hearted child, never
paid attention to unless she rebelled or went against
authority.
Questioning everything, even God.
A life no one should have to endure, especially an innocent
child who had done no wrong.
Paying with her life and freedom when grown, to an abusive
husband, not realizing she deserved so much more than what
she was used to and comfortable with.
An intelligent woman, graced with a personality full of life
and strength, an inspiration to others, yet can't inspire
herself to write a best selling novel, even though she has
the entire book within her mind.
A sadness felt within for her, praying she will take the
help to write her book that she has asked me for.
As the window of opportunity wanes, gets smaller, nothing I
do seems to phase her - she's stuck in her emotional turmoil
and is afraid to unfold herself from it - as it's all she's
ever known.