LiveJournal Idol Season 9 Week 22: Sweep the Leg

[eeyore_grrl]

			self-defense


i’ve always meant to learn karate or tae kwon do, 
		arm myself with self-defense

block with the arm, sweep with the leg

i’ve always meant to learn to fight back
			to not be weak
			    not be a victim

		to be strong

but i’ve met obstacles
	had voices, loud and clear
	shout at me that i am no good
	shout at me that i am weak
	remind me that i am vulnerable

and every hit to my ego
	every scare
		or dangerous situation
	reminds me that i never took the time
		that i never found the strength
		to take that class in martial arts
				     in self-defense
learned to block any blows that may come my way
	to block any words that strike like fists and knives
learned to take an attacker down with a sweep of the leg
	to sweep the footing out from self-doubt

i never learned to fight and win
	perhaps the time has come
	to block with the arm, sweep with the leg

		declare myself victorious
		         safe and sound

This was written for LiveJournal Idol season 9, Week 22. Please read the rest of the entries (or some, at least) and vote for your favorites here: LINK TO BE ADDED.

You can see and hear me read this poem here:

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

I'm learning self-defense -- not the physical kind, but the emotional one. It takes quite a bit of time, but I'm glad I have the skills I do have, now. :)

Maybe yes, it is time.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Always highly important! And not easy.

[adoptedwriter.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to learn a bit about martial arts. My friend's sons did it for years. It helped with concentration and mental focus without ADD meds. Gave them confidante in so many ways. AW

[ryl.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to learn martial arts, but I'm still leery of contact sports and the suchlike. I spent too many years being a bruise magnet to open myself up to even a controlled physical attack.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I bet if you look around your area, you could fins a class like that. I took martial arts for a few years in grad school and recommend it.

[beeker121.livejournal.com]

I like the parallels you created in this.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

to sweep the footing out from self-doubt
This line really stood out for me. There's the sense of protecting yourself from others (physically, emotionally), but protecting yourself from what is often an aftereffect of that other abuse... sometimes, it is every bit as difficult.

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

An excellent use of the prompt, and I hope you reach that point where you are victorious, safe & sound.

[favoritebean.livejournal.com]

This resonates with me so well. I'm not very good at fighting back though. Maybe your piece will inspire me to block better.

Well done.

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

Loved the idea here...Nice job! I left martial arts halfway though..and this makes me go back..:)

[tatdatcm.livejournal.com]

I love how you begin with physical defense and turn it into emotional and psychological defense.

Hope you are working on being victorious, safe and sound.

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

Love the line
"To sweep the leg out of self doubt"
That's an extremely hard thing to do. I hope you achieve this goal! :) (I'll try to do it with you!)

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

*hugs* It's a hard thing to learn.

[kajel.livejournal.com]

sweep the footing out from self-doubt</>

Great line. Nicely done.

[beldarzfixon.livejournal.com]

At 15 I took enough karate to understand how complex it is -- nothing like you see on TV and my schoolmates would fake through.

This has me thinking, I wonder who much better I'd be mentally if I had stuck with the martial arts. =/

[xlovebecomesher.livejournal.com]

Love the take on the prompt!