Abstract
Trauamatic experiences are often difficult to validate. The poem describes an episode where such validation was possible, through the use of film from childhood.
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Artist’s Statement
This poem reflects the experience of validation of past emotional trauma. The narrator realizes, watching actual video footage, of the truth of his memories.
Validation
Guzzling Malbec
like a broken-down, boozed-up child star,
I watch videos of myself as a kid.
A birthday party 50 years ago
has been Super 8 digitized,
and I finally see what I always felt;
through the camera’s eye
that look of hatred she gave me
and the threat in her eyes
before she noticed the camera
and remembered to paste on a smile.