tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post5672054837004090441..comments2023-10-31T09:13:27.144-07:00Comments on The Cat Box: Not a Bar Girl AnymoreCatherine Viberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-55825857603006736052009-03-24T04:59:00.000-07:002009-03-24T04:59:00.000-07:00Deepaz World- Thank you, and welcome to my blog! ...Deepaz World- Thank you, and welcome to my blog! It is very nice to meet you.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-90046984585699801262009-03-22T04:00:00.000-07:002009-03-22T04:00:00.000-07:00It is a very touching poem! The last lines did bri...It is a very touching poem! The last lines did bring tears to my eyes...it's wonderful! No words to explain exactly how I feel...Deepa Gopalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11120735937767070980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-10948365181073569352009-03-09T18:50:00.000-07:002009-03-09T18:50:00.000-07:00Cynthia -Thank you. Indeed it is. For way too ma...Cynthia -Thank you. Indeed it is. For way too many.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-38894448923783934192009-03-08T16:08:00.000-07:002009-03-08T16:08:00.000-07:00Cat, you've rendered this woman'splight [and the o...Cat, you've rendered this woman's<BR/>plight [and the other girls] with<BR/>a gentle compassion. The last<BR/>bit a heartbreaker.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10256391836026637655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-41484356705395939312009-03-06T07:37:00.000-08:002009-03-06T07:37:00.000-08:00Christopher- Thank you for your story. I saw that ...Christopher- Thank you for your story. I saw that same scene over and over in India, but women were breaking the rocks and their children (babies) were lying by under makeshift shade while men were standing by directing and smoking bidis. I was horrified. <BR/><BR/>K. Thank you so much. I really didn't know it would cause so much of an emotional response, but I am very glad for that feedback.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-69079791291589298722009-03-05T15:11:00.000-08:002009-03-05T15:11:00.000-08:00Sorry I am so late in getting here. I echo all th...Sorry I am so late in getting here. I echo all the comments. This is haunting in it literary quality and human drama. One would have to be a brick not to cry hard after reading this poem. <BR/><BR/>Extraordinary!K.Lawson Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204234196229710524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-49986781264680582162009-03-05T12:55:00.000-08:002009-03-05T12:55:00.000-08:00I should add, East Pakistan went through changes t...I should add, East Pakistan went through changes that started as I left, and is now known as Bangladesh.christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201537517464996231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-8832045556626580722009-03-05T12:53:00.000-08:002009-03-05T12:53:00.000-08:00Cat, Well done. I have nothing to add that hasn'...Cat, Well done. I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said.<BR/><BR/>In East Pakistan, in Dacca (or Dhaka) where I lived for a couple years, 67-69, I would walk past a man squatted down hammering bricks into gravel all day long. In a lean-to of cloth, not even a tent, his family lived right there with him while he broke the bricks using a small hammer, one at a time. He was hired to make gravel for the concrete that would be poured behind the wall for whatever was needed there. The women disappeared daily. I don't know what they did, nor the children.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes families like this will maim their children to increase the chances of Baksheesh (alms). They are doing what they must to survive.<BR/><BR/>As for this way of getting gravel, clay is plentiful in this land which is ancient alluvial plain, and rock is almost non-existent, thus broken brick gravel.christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201537517464996231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-8908291909414435232009-03-05T09:21:00.000-08:002009-03-05T09:21:00.000-08:00Karen, Sarah, Julie, Blue Sugar and Geraldine, I t...Karen, Sarah, Julie, Blue Sugar and Geraldine, I thank you for your words, and I want you all to know that Daw was very happy to read this poem, although she would very much like to forget the whole experience. And who could blame her for wanting that?<BR/><BR/>Mia (a nickname we have for each other) You are in my heart my dear.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-86059877095085006042009-03-04T22:57:00.000-08:002009-03-04T22:57:00.000-08:00That was a powerful piece, Cat. How you've intertw...That was a powerful piece, Cat. How you've intertwined and juxtaposed the beauty with the ugliness is incredible.bluesugarpoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14775769108087898456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-50796533333240480262009-03-04T15:48:00.000-08:002009-03-04T15:48:00.000-08:00Oh, Cat. I am blown away. This poem is sad but a...Oh, Cat. I am blown away. This poem is sad but also beautiful at the same time. Though what she endured is horrific, the woman is beautiful. <BR/><BR/>The ending is perfect! You have created a vivid portrait of the real woman behind the things we hear about or the articles we read. Excellent poem!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-15205870295417621712009-03-04T14:02:00.000-08:002009-03-04T14:02:00.000-08:00I just wanted to mention that you infuse her with ...I just wanted to mention that you infuse her with such dignity by bringing her child into the ending. Really good writing.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-63913418647553178182009-03-04T12:05:00.000-08:002009-03-04T12:05:00.000-08:00A wallop of emotion here, Cat. I'm not sure if I c...A wallop of emotion here, Cat. I'm not sure if I can say much more than that, as I'm all squeezed out. Your choice in bringing it around to the daughter at the end was truly inspired. Just an amazing progression and window here. <BR/><BR/>I'm so glad your friend is climbing. I wish we could pull up all the others.Sarah Hinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13888406261817690010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-3857841122922070852009-03-04T09:02:00.000-08:002009-03-04T09:02:00.000-08:00This was so sad to read but beautifully written Ca...This was so sad to read but beautifully written Cat. I'm glad your friend found a way out. What a wonderful tribute you've written.<BR/><BR/>Hugs, GGeraldine https://www.blogger.com/profile/07410019941984295767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-28478990307618187582009-03-04T04:16:00.000-08:002009-03-04T04:16:00.000-08:00Khaled-Optimistic, I like that. I feel very much ...Khaled-Optimistic, I like that. I feel very much optimism for Daw. Thankfully she didn't have that job for very long. Sadly, many others aren't nearly so lucky and will be badly wounded by their fate.<BR/><BR/>Jason-Thank you. There is always a cost when a person has to endure a less than ideal existence in order to survive. Many people never get a chance to rise above that and so never know anything BUT the ice blade. For them I feel the most pain. I found myself finding very comforting and helpful advice from Daw, in her statement to me not to dwell in the past. Considering our pasts, I found her statement to hold a lot of power. For her I have a lot of hope. As I said to Khaled, for others, not so much. <BR/><BR/>Noelle- I'm sorry to make you sad. :-( But these are the facts, unpleasant as they are... Thanks for reading. It is always a pleasure to have you over. :-)Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-76440882408555399932009-03-03T17:14:00.000-08:002009-03-03T17:14:00.000-08:00that makes me sad :(that makes me sad :(Noelle Dunn.... A Poet in Progresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17770013944671340961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-46561414237624441192009-03-03T14:02:00.000-08:002009-03-03T14:02:00.000-08:00That blindness at the end deals the mortal blow. ...That blindness at the end deals the mortal blow. It's blind, it's hidden, it's buried...until it isn't. I fear for her in the ice-blade future when it isn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-2690992037336310662009-03-03T10:12:00.000-08:002009-03-03T10:12:00.000-08:00Very touching story, true, sad and optimistic.The ...Very touching story, true, sad and optimistic.<BR/>The poem explains well the lives of these women makes it more felt and more thoughtful.<BR/> I can picture these young ladies in some countries I traveled to. What I like about many of them, their untouchable souls!! Whatever happen to their bodies, they still carry the hope, the dream and the good left in life.Khaled KEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056388277824598564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-39082422369570848982009-03-03T09:40:00.000-08:002009-03-03T09:40:00.000-08:00Linda-I really thank you for the very high complim...Linda-I really thank you for the very high compliment. It helps me as I plod along in my learning despite the self doubts. I'm really glad I could translate her world to you, and how it made me feel to be there. You have put your finger on that.<BR/><BR/>Vesper-Aren't we though? Sigh... I wish I could do more than just write a poem to help. <BR/><BR/>Jorc-I always love it when I see you, so welcome back. Thank you for your words and for taking the journey...<BR/><BR/>Paul-I do not know ANY publishers, but it is a real dream. I thank you so much for your encouragement. It means a great deal to me.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-80176008976368630042009-03-03T08:07:00.000-08:002009-03-03T08:07:00.000-08:00you seriously need to get this stuff published.......you seriously need to get this stuff published....<BR/><BR/>there is a lot of self congratulatory stuff in blog land (all well meaning) but some of it not very prudent - you though can write. <BR/><BR/>do you know any publishers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-59400222988897423052009-03-03T07:07:00.000-08:002009-03-03T07:07:00.000-08:00That was simply amazing...a moving example of a wo...That was simply amazing...a moving example of a woman simply doing, without question, what she has to do to survive. Impressive. Thank you for sharing it with us!<BR/>jorcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-17116787236628256012009-03-03T04:22:00.000-08:002009-03-03T04:22:00.000-08:00Tomorrow, she thinks, will be betterIf not this li...<I>Tomorrow, she thinks, will be better<BR/>If not this life then next.</I><BR/><BR/>Cat, your words gave me goosebumps and made my heart cry for all the unfortunate souls of the world. Yes, we are very lucky.Vesperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417602625059442986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-80808254814436046392009-03-02T20:49:00.000-08:002009-03-02T20:49:00.000-08:00catvibeYou really are a gifted writer...whatever y...catvibe<BR/>You really are a gifted writer...whatever you are writing. I feel as if I have met and talked with this young woman and seen into her heart. I want to extend a hand or just walk with her. What a treasure your writing is.<BR/>LindaLinda S. Sochahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03281672541959206302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-33294652274190656042009-03-02T18:24:00.000-08:002009-03-02T18:24:00.000-08:00JR- Thank you. :) It was whole different world fo...JR- Thank you. :) It was whole different world for me, I'm glad I got to know Daw, and the others.<BR/><BR/>Laughingwolf, it is indeed. And so much worse in other countries than here, the things people have to do.<BR/><BR/>Karen, thank you my friend. It means a lot to me to know you feel it, and I sense the camaraderie. Today she called me a lucky woman. I can't even begin to describe my own sense of guilt at the chasm that exists between what I have and what these girls have to endure. And yet there is a sense of acceptance and grace in doing what they have to do that pervades their attitudes, this is something I can learn from.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6065576345622223007.post-39346496547140769172009-03-02T14:24:00.001-08:002009-03-02T14:24:00.001-08:00Cat - You have re-created this world entirely, and...Cat - You have re-created this world entirely, and it is a heart- breaking picture. Like Jennifer and Rachel, you have me crying for the plight of women everywhere who do what they have to do to survive. How sad. I agree with Rachel -- one of the best I've read in a while.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.com