The Rape Poems

by Frances Driscoll

Poetry. Frances Driscoll's RAPE POEMS sink into the horror and beauty of memory without attention to pretense. The poems refuse to relent from the poet's sense of unshakable reality and do not belabor themselves with the trivialities of a misunderstanding world. Described as a "compelling...rare" collection, THE RAPE POEMS is personal reportage in common language with alarmingly precise composition and artistry. "Harrowing and obsessively skeptical, tender and private and hugely humane, these unsettling poems arrive like dispatches from the very source of our wounds" --Ralph Angel.

Genres: Poetry, Abuse

76 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

poet

Reviews

[Buskuvit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarringly beautiful.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and fierce. I read it cover to cover, in one sitting. I don't always do that (even with poetry), but I was simply unable to put this book down until finished. Definitely recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book tackling a tough subject. Can be tough to read, can also be healing.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such nightmares this morning.

[courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

driscoll's voice is sure and strong and her story is harrowing. this collection works outside of chronology and intersperses long, narrative pieces with smaller "snapshots" of the story. more than once in the hour or so that it took me to read this, i was nauseated, moved to cry, or i laughed. i am somewhat disappointed that few people have heard of this collection -- a circumstance i attribute to the difficulty of talking about rape outside of a therapy session. i particularly loved (LOVED) the piece "some lucky girls" in which a group of victims defend and express varying degrees of affection for their rapists. all too familiar.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Jaycee Dugard's A Stolen Life, this is the single most disturbing book I have ever read. I don't know how anyone writes the poems in a book like this. It is also a powerful story of self exploration and healing, as well as how to find some semblance of peace regarding extreme trauma. So there is the proverbial silver lining for the speaker in this collection, even though these poems make it clear how painfully inadequate it is.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense. Strong. Haunting.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely not for the faint of heart.

[Aquila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rape Poems is a painfully accurate portrayal of many complicated feelings someone can experience in the aftermath of rape.

While I wouldn't necessarily call it enjoyable, this is an important read. If you have a loved one who has experienced sexual harm and you have not, this might be a way to help you understand some of what they're struggling with.

Frances Driscoll expertly captures the spiraling feeling of trying desperately to find help and not being able to accomplish that as well as the fear that there is no longer any space you're able to call safe in this world.

"I remember not knowing what would happen when he stopped. Life or death was all I thought was at stake. Who could have imagined this."

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiple Choice
Ray says he is

a) vacationing from Virginia.
b) from Louisiana.
c) newly transferred by the Navy from California.

The policewoman says
most likely
Ray is

d) none of the above.

The policewoman says
most likely
Ray is

not Ray.
- from The Rape Poems
The Rape Poems by Frances Driscoll - winner of Pushcart Prize. Worth reading. Worth facing.

[Stevie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a favor to someone - not something I'd have picked up on my own but not sorry I read it either. She's a strong writer. It's a difficult thing to read, but seems well done. I appreciated it more than I expected. Giving this a four for writerly prowess but a 3 for how I personally related to it. Worthwhile. Hard. Trigger warnings if you need them - parts are graphic.