tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post541587645469352..comments2023-11-03T09:04:26.994-04:00Comments on A Thing for Words: Act of ContritionJoseph Heschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217169295029029233noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-81415367000609143262011-10-24T21:50:04.044-04:002011-10-24T21:50:04.044-04:00Oh my... this was emotionally trying to read. The ...Oh my... this was emotionally trying to read. The horror of such acts is beyond my comprehension yet I was cheering the child to go on as he was confronting the abuser. Wonderful work, Joe.<br /><br />BethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-91567771683421226802011-10-23T11:12:49.984-04:002011-10-23T11:12:49.984-04:00It saddens me, all these facts coming out about pr...It saddens me, all these facts coming out about priests that have used their positions for abuse. Right in nearby city a story came out a couple of years ago. How hard on the children to carry that guilt through adulthood. I was raised Catholic in small VT town. Can never go back to viewing the church in the quite the same innocent way. Thankfully the priests I grew up with seemed to be decent, hoping they were what they seemed. You did an amazing job writing this in first-person. Thanks for sharing.Ginny Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15298060016652737538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-79351909583058296742011-10-21T15:01:34.391-04:002011-10-21T15:01:34.391-04:00Powerful piece, Joe. One of the good things about ...Powerful piece, Joe. One of the good things about being writers/poets is we can bring these issues to the surface. The second step is for the church to admit that they know these offenses take place. Then maybe the pews won't be so empty.Belindahttp://thehalfwaypoint.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-25512909594659382192011-10-20T11:15:40.610-04:002011-10-20T11:15:40.610-04:00effective words,
I hear you.effective words,<br />I hear you.Maxwell Mead Williams Robinson Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532576755186051550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-90660745595605420902011-10-20T10:34:28.111-04:002011-10-20T10:34:28.111-04:00I could hear your Catholic voice in this oneI could hear your Catholic voice in this oneKodjo Deynoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01299996598769756878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-55554248381931017212011-10-19T20:21:15.148-04:002011-10-19T20:21:15.148-04:00Oh, sad. Thanks for hosting Open Link Night 14.Oh, sad. Thanks for hosting Open Link Night 14.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-78866759694642215062011-10-19T19:39:01.984-04:002011-10-19T19:39:01.984-04:00An incredible write Joe ~ unedited feelings bared ...An incredible write Joe ~ unedited feelings bared ~ how many must live with the pounding silence and gagged from the abuse suffered by those who should have protected and cared ~ so many feelings of hurt and gross betrayal ~ of position and trust ~ utterly powerful and incredibly brave and honest write ~ salute you ~ for accounting, wording, going 'there' and sharing so perhaps others may too have a voice ~ may they too have their accountability ~<br />Hugs Liblibithinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02804271915695515140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-5651307995370207742011-10-19T17:11:22.043-04:002011-10-19T17:11:22.043-04:00The depths of the pain you probe in this one is un...The depths of the pain you probe in this one is unspeakable, but you spoke it for all of those who, perhaps, keep it bottled up inside. This is a good example of how spontaneous, unedited writing can be so effective. I'm so sorry for those who have had to face such horrendous abuse of trust and power in their lives. I feel like these abusers hurt not only the victims, but all those who are a part of the church who were impeccable.Victoriahttp://liv2write2day.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-70559043637385828892011-10-19T16:54:08.500-04:002011-10-19T16:54:08.500-04:00this anecdotal poem affects me greatly; so, w/o go...this anecdotal poem affects me greatly; so, w/o going into a Tirade over the whole priest-pedophile thing, I shall reserve my commentary strictly to the piece itself.<br /><br />It's good, in that the piece leads me on, up to the point of the turn -- leading to suicide.<br />w/the ''Head's up'' line, I began to think the molested victim was about to do the perpetrator in; but Alas! it was himself. <br />good anecdotal poem. thanks.tinkwelbornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14163026661564191285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-21316326472649316312011-10-19T11:45:39.539-04:002011-10-19T11:45:39.539-04:00Ugh - a horrid situation we've all been expose...Ugh - a horrid situation we've all been exposed to from the media for decades now. The U.S., Europe, it seems to be a global problem, and still there's rarely enough responsibility taken over it. A tortured piece for a miserable aspect of our world - as Patricia noted, it's a tough topic to tackle, but Joe, you bloody well did it. Makes the heart reach out to all those that have suffered as such.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-83598746698871342512011-10-19T11:32:02.785-04:002011-10-19T11:32:02.785-04:00Fine poem, working through, speaking through tortu...Fine poem, working through, speaking through tortuous and scarred avenues of the soul that no one should have to walk. Why this is tolerated, and on the scale it is, is a tormenting question for our society, and that it is most widespread amongst those who profess to have all the spiritual answers for 'sin' is more than an outrage or a scandal, it is the sin itself. Thanks for speaking out.hedgewitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13090696134322515899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-28884505020602541532011-10-19T00:28:10.610-04:002011-10-19T00:28:10.610-04:00such a fantastic piece with a strong voice so well...such a fantastic piece with a strong voice so well penned and yet it is sad to me at the same time but I did enjoy so much reading this<br />http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/18/farewell-my-three-legged-friend/Ann LeFlorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09421100825301270608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-56849104522680137412011-10-18T23:34:54.769-04:002011-10-18T23:34:54.769-04:00Joe, I've been sitting here for 20 minutes, st...Joe, I've been sitting here for 20 minutes, staring at my screen. I understand this.<br /><br />You allowing this pain and anger to surface, to be stirred up so that it flows out of your pen into the light... is a sign of life... and strength... great strength. He didn't get that part of you, Joe.Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00991524097486901864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-15731113263724048112011-10-18T23:28:15.007-04:002011-10-18T23:28:15.007-04:00wow, such a tough subject to tackle, but you did i...wow, such a tough subject to tackle, but you did it really well, the visceral reaction was there all the way through, the unfolding of events that tells the story.<br />so much brutality in this world, that against children is the worst.mrs mediocrityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01021079985184737831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-29607616368064318192011-10-18T21:13:40.993-04:002011-10-18T21:13:40.993-04:00Oh my, Joe-- I hadn't read this when I posted ...Oh my, Joe-- I hadn't read this when I posted mine, which comes at the repression and hypocracy of the church and our upbringing. This is compelling and beautiful and tormenting. This sings and speaks for many of us, I believe. Give yourself a hug for tackling this immensely difficult subject however close to the bone and the bon homme it might be. And forgive the humor in my write-- a look back at a onetime mortification that was spirit-destroying at the time. xxxxjJenne' R. Andrews https://www.blogger.com/profile/15744946229300234443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-9167799270741840862011-10-18T20:52:04.243-04:002011-10-18T20:52:04.243-04:00The deep pain of such an experience you have expre...The deep pain of such an experience you have expressed all too well. Thank you for sharing this with us.Joanne Young Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14431836725661024756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-57513471171788567352011-10-18T20:23:39.060-04:002011-10-18T20:23:39.060-04:00We were thinking the same thing Saturday, about me...We were thinking the same thing Saturday, about men in ministry who abuse their power. So awful but the worst part is that the story is not unique as it should be. Some wounds will always hurt a little even after healing comes. Thank you for eloquently sharing this. It is sad and true and innocent and brave and I love that you stayed strong to share. Thank you, Joe.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01547380098561803645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-70873184593362857772011-10-18T20:19:42.430-04:002011-10-18T20:19:42.430-04:00A difficult and sensitive topic which you wrote ve...A difficult and sensitive topic which you wrote very well. It turns out they are just infallible as the guy on the street - shameful.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this ~Scarlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03330793338813508704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-8295255312809058042011-10-18T19:19:54.366-04:002011-10-18T19:19:54.366-04:00Powerful writing. On an important subject. Too man...Powerful writing. On an important subject. Too many stood silent.Charles Elliott/Beautyseerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5wPSFdvvXonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-76220025572326307762011-10-18T17:20:38.169-04:002011-10-18T17:20:38.169-04:00Beautifully simple story speaks with a strong voic...Beautifully simple story speaks with a strong voice - Love this Joe, you've written about a difficult topic with a light touch that makes it all the more powerfulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-43020109972935278702011-10-18T17:08:22.328-04:002011-10-18T17:08:22.328-04:00my abuse came from my dad, not a priest...but he w...my abuse came from my dad, not a priest...but he was a preacher...the scars never really go away, do they :(<br /><br />Powerful write, you are brave to share it, thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-92002134965360236182011-10-18T16:54:11.118-04:002011-10-18T16:54:11.118-04:00Great story and love the many angles you've we...Great story and love the many angles you've weaved in here. When I was a kid I used to serve as an Altar boy myself, and I remember getting out of class to do funerals and then they had a midday mass back then too. I was wondering how you'd keep going with the piece, but the manner you did was definitely a turn I didn't anticipate, and I love when I leave a piece both pausing to contemplate and eager to return to see what pieces I missed. Amazing read, thanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05885047796180529498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-28867543089297510202011-10-18T16:33:33.666-04:002011-10-18T16:33:33.666-04:00Ugg! The writing, brilliant, the feeling left behi...Ugg! The writing, brilliant, the feeling left behind...ugg. Well done Joe....taboo or not, a potent piece that shows more than just your versatility. Ugg!Tashtoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15847190224960829574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-82822678351936837082011-10-18T15:41:54.674-04:002011-10-18T15:41:54.674-04:00I like this a lot, the dramatic progression is ver...I like this a lot, the dramatic progression is very effective. I'd really like to see it fleshed out more as a prose monologue.Mark Kerstetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13307987573435067415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735446301837589358.post-16026866617492778852011-10-18T15:36:48.292-04:002011-10-18T15:36:48.292-04:00Powerful image Joe... wasn't quite expecting ...Powerful image Joe... wasn't quite expecting the suicide, but was thinking he was there to harm the priest.... It's hard to imagine what a victim like that must go through, but I think you did an excellent job of putting the reader into that pain.... Beautiful....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com