On the objectification of the feminization
of pain, "The Order of Protection." Recently, I had
cause to get an Order of Protection just as a strategic move.
I have always, personally, been a strong woman and I was struck
by the lack of power of other women in the court, their stories
and the judges obvious dispassion. The entire male-oriented process
appeared to further victimize the victim and, as most of us know,
many women are killed by their abusers while under these so-called
Orders of Protection.
she went to Their courts to tell
Them about Him
she was given papers to fill out
in quadruplicate in hextuplicate
designed to discourage & confuse
by time & complexity
so that He could make her wait
before offering dispassionate patience
to another version of a familiar song
He nodded without understanding
desperately trying to stay tuned
He routinely tore her papers apart and tossed
her to the shes
it was a woman's wailing room
then she encountered Him
she ran to call the Men,
officers of Their court
she wanted Them to protect her
from Him with her papers that
He had torn & tossed
after making her wait,
designed to discourage & confuse
but the Men, They made her wait
apparently, she wasn't in Their system
the shes had not followed Their directions
while she waited
she had cause to remember how
quickly the Men had come
to save Him from the girl
it was a woman's death chamber
Upon the place that They had made
the Men & Him stood
They bypassed their differences
(which at any other time would be a cause for conflict)
deferring to the Man in each
They talked with Him
and explained what He had
done in Their courts
with her papers that He had torn & tossed
after making her wait, designed to discourage & confuse
They were told how she
had wronged Him
The Men & Him nodded with understanding
then looked at her with Their eyes
she screamed across cultures,
& was heard the same, empty & muted
it was a woman's burial ground
10/21/00
