This is the poem I hope to read tonight if I make it to an open spot. It is from the Chapter Claiming My Life which comes towards the end of my healing process. Come hear the voice that speaks the words:
ROCK I remember myself a child standing in the maelstrom that was my life. Bent, nearly broken. No foundation. No comfort. Only the fragility of one so small, unable to tether herself to safety. That child is within me now as the hurricane roars and I am blown to kingdom come, my roots that I have worked so hard to anchor to this earth, torn from their life-line. They are ripped up with me as I am thrown this way and that so far and so fast, you cannot see me as I fly past. There is no clinging on. All that held me is gone, obliterated, lost in the storm so I am nowhere — only the fleeting, bare flicker of my inner flame still seen. Then, somehow — at the words of a prompt spoken as I write with other women — I remember the round river rock smoothed by the water sunk way down in the deepest part of me. So often I forget it is there, that it is all the tether I need. I see it as my deepest self, the center of my being — its blossom, its promise. It is there for me to lean on and remind me of the strength I have inside — my own internal structure. It is the knowing of who I am, my solidity, that I trust I will gain anew, along with the knowledge that some day my roots will never be torn from the earth. I will become acquainted again with this rock I know is inside me but cannot at this moment feel. But when I can, I will collapse within its harbor, its comfort, taking it up on its offer of asylum. If I need to, I will let myself off the hook with everything else, giving me the time and space to heal through this one. When I come to know this rock once more, I will also remember I am no longer a child but a grown woman with the strength to weather any storm. And I have the power to keep my feet on the ground even if the worst comes and I am cut off from the world, alone on my island. I have the raw fierceness to not crumble but instead go out into the hurricane and raise my arms to the wind, harnessing its ferocity to fill my body and to feed my ability to grab on and claim my right to live. Healing Talk for Women Survivors
You Are NOT Alone and it IS Possible to Heal For Domestic Violence Awareness Month 222 Arts & Wellness Center 222 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 (978) 281-6222 Robin will introduce her talk with insights, encouragement, and inspiration on healing — what helped her as she traveled on her awe-inspiring journey from the devastation of her childhood. She will follow with a transformational reading from her poetic memoir “The Blooming of the Lotus: a spiritual journey from trauma into light,” beginning from the deepest abyss and ending with the most breathtaking light and fulfillment of her own life. Discussion and a book signing afterwards. (Books and eBooks will be available for sale.) Brooks says, “In my book(s) and readings, I introduce the tools I used for my own healing. In my workshops, I go on to teach these tools. My hope is that, with the help of therapy and healing tools, survivors may come out of isolation — breaking the silence — and come to believe not only in the ability to heal but also in their own power. “By informing those who impact survivors’ lives — healing professionals, educators, the judges who rule on sexual abuse cases, and even family and friends — I hope that, in time, we may rid the world of this atrocious form of abuse.” “Thank you for guiding me through the darkness into the light!” — a reader & workshop participant To view some of Robin's readings, please go to her Youtube channel. About the Author Robin Lynn Brooks is a published poet and playwright, and her art has traveled nationwide. She has a Masters in Sculpture from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She is also a book designer. Currently, Brooks is working on a prose sequel to “The Blooming of the Lotus,” as well as several other healing books for survivors. She lives in western Massachusetts, where nature surrounds her and supports her in her own healing. About the Book “The Blooming of the Lotus: a spiritual journey from trauma into light” was written in collaboration with trauma specialist Dr. AnDréya Wilde who organized the poems to follow the natural order of healing. Whether a survivor reads the poems sequentially or chooses a chapter that resonates in the moment, she comes to know she is not alone. Healing tools are demonstrated throughout, as well as messages of hope, validation, courage, strength, and inspiration. For links to purchase a book or eBook, please click here. Robin is currently available for speaking engagements, including readings, keynotes, lectures, and workshops. Please see my website. Thank you. Robin |
AuthorAs I write, I discover more and more who I am, and, as I do so, I share with you, in case anything I write may resonate with, help, or guide you. Archives
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