Hieu Minh Nguyen - Haunt Me

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Hieu Minh Nguyen, performing at TGS 2014 in Bryan, TX.
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Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.

[@fandomrandom5783]

I was raped when I was 6 by my mother's boyfriend at the time (he started beating her later on and he left; we found out he had been to prison multiple times after the fact). I didn't remember until I was about 12. When I told my mother, she yelled at me, telling me that my overactive imagination was making things up again, that if it had REALLY happened, I would've remembered. I AM SO GLAD THAT I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS. It's a terrible thing, but I am so proud of him for standing up, and speaking out. Thank you. Hieu. so much.

[@Maribeth0801]

That's one thing that has always baffled me--WHY do we continue to think that we're alone in anything-when somewhere inside we know that we arent. There are millions of us here, so there will always be at least someone who can relate. Why pain and such seemingly causes us to forget that... I too have had repressed memories come to light and at first that made me question my sanity & whether or not any of it was real. Also gets me curious to know what else i've been through unknowingly. .. Just sayin..

[@iceeirony]

There's a really good book about this happening to a girl. It's called Broken. I will never know the trauma of being sexually assaulted but I can definitely respect those who stand up who have. If it were me, I would have never doubted my child. Questioned at first, get more detail, but never doubted. Stay strong

[@fandomrandom5783]

iceeirony Do you happen to know the name of the author? Thanks love

[@iceeirony]

Fandom Random It's called Broken by Shy Keenan. It's a very intense and very descriptive, and very visual in description but still very good.

[@julieunderhill1198]

What "they say" is motivated by their desire to discredit and disbelieve survivors, which is, unfortunately, too common. If it's not your memory in question, it's your audibility. They want us to stop remembering, to stop telling. You do neither. Extraordinarily powerful and important work. You are brilliant and courageous. Thank you.

[@ThePatch123]

Whoa that ending is just. I have no words.

[@hollowaymccartney]

Chills. Absolutely chilling, haunting, and beautiful. Thank you.

[@Summerdotbeauty]

This was chilling. Beautifully written and performed.

[@Walawalacookie]

This was amazing. As someone who was molested by two different people on several occasions I feel your pain. I didn't start remembering till I was nearly 18 and by then one of the people who had hurt me was long gone from my life. The other is still here but I can't bring myself to tell anyone about it. Not anyone who would do anything. I admire your courage.

[@krystalhall4218]

tell someone, it's always better to tell someone. i hope everything ends up okay:)

[@MishaDKroon]

I'm speechless... He is an incredible performer and writer... I don't have anything more to say :c

[@hannaharris4073]

I saw this poem in person and it will be something I remember for the rest of my life. It's beautiful online, but I could not stop sobbing when I saw it live.

[@PixieBratski]

I have goosebumps.

[@ejspeaks]

oh my GOD!!! This was amazing!

[@broom_people]

Ok here I am PLEASE go buy THis Way To The Sugar i have read many poetry books in my short life but this is definitely my favorite and its so worth it like honestly if you like this poem you will love the book even more

[@lucyj5490]

This was so chillingly beautiful.

[@batikkaba8608]

Wow wow wow.

[@OneUpdateataTime]

Well now I absolutely have to buy your book. THIS WAS AMAZING!

[@ManishaP]

This was just incredible, so much passion, had me hooked and crying till the end.

[@daniellafenelon]

Holy cow that was AMAZING

[@nora_fluffy]

Deeply perplexed... amazing.

[@marapowell5505]

Thank you so much for this.

[@hhh827]

Holy shit. So much truth.

[@AynBernosDotNet]

So so so moving. Beautiful piece!

[@beyoncasmith1267]

Beautiful I can relate

[@ZakirrahRBlogger]

Amazing!

[@theelusiveone147]

Too much of his inside flooding my speaker. i almost couldn't handle it. I wasn't ready. I am moved.

[@igisingorsomething]

Flooded your speaker= you were moved= now you float.

[@stillyourlilgirl]

I also get this 'feeling' or probably 'memory' of me being molested, i dont know if it is just an imagination brought about by childhood. But all i 'remember' are big hands touching me in my inner thighs while i was crying my heart out. I kinda carried it with me and im always wondering whether it happened or not. There are times i recall them (even when i was young)and forget about it and 'brush it off' anyways and i had some happy memories of my childhood. I am 18 now and i am very depressed. I hate myself and i am afraid of my own sexuality. But i remember there were times when i was around 10 or 11 i was wishing for death. But i hadnt realized it all not till recently that i realized i am having so much trouble with myself. I hadnt realized what it was called till recently . Now i am wondering wether all of the molest memories ever happened?

[@guatonaaa]

Sounds like you're going through what I went thought. I was molested at 6 by my mom's boyfriend. But it wasn't until I was 16 or so that I started having flashbacks about that day. I kept telling myself for years that it was my imagination. But it became so real, i started seeing all the sings, the harassment, the way he undressed me in his mind every time he looked at me, all the times he tried to take a peek when I was in the bathroom. It was too real to not be depressed. I also remember all the times i said i wanted to kill myself when i was about 12. It wasn't until I was 21 that I tried to kill myself, that day everybody found out about it. When I woke up, my mom told me everything was going to be ok, that she dumped him, and that we'll get over this. We had therapy sessions, tried to work together on this. Two months later I found out that she was still with him, she never broke up with him, she believed HIS words. She said that it was my imagination, and it was my mind who invented all those memories. She preferred him, instead of her own daughter. Haven't spoken or seen her since then, I heard that she's gonna marry him, but I couldn't care less. I'm 22 now and my life is better without them both. Best decision I could had ever taken. What I want you to know is... Life does get better, it takes time, yes, and a lot of strength. But you will be ok, you'll get over that depression. I suggest you go to a psychologist and tell them how you feel. Talking about it with your closest friends can help too 'cause you need a lot of support. I'm telling you this because that's what helped me. You're gonna hit a point where you'll be sick of feeling sad and being down all the time. Remember "you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have" I wish you the best of luck! And sorry for the long post haha :)

[@iceeirony]

I will never know your guys' trauma, but even a stranger such as myself can offer to be a shoulder to lean on sometimes, to talk to and vent to. Sometimes a stranger can be better than someone you know. Consider it, please

[@MCKING0006]

This is haunting :D

[@boricuatonguis]

holy shit...goosebumps

[@jugslugger]

Wow am I sorry this is so many of your memories. I don't have those but I spent a year in the busiest hospital in Afghanistan and those memories come running at me daily now that I am four years home. Sometimes you need to push down all you have experienced in order to simply function.I never knew what it felt like to force yourself to forget. The first year home I was walking on a beach and someone shined a pointer light on my chest. I was face down in the sand before I even knew I was afraid. I remember more every day and wish I didn't.

[@b3An404]

ooo fuck... here come the tears

[@ms.hunter962]

I was molested by a mother and son that ran my daycare when i was about 2. I started remembering their eyes and having random snippets of fear when i was in high school. Around 19 i had a break down and it was like my brain was like oh hey member this ? Time to member this. All kinds of things came back to me and i had to unpack all this trauma . My mom told me later that she had felt like something was up , cuz she would come to get me from the daycare and all the kids would be sitting perfectly still in a circle not making eye contact with anyone . She was like the energy was always wrong but i never could put my finger on exactly what it was.

[@Dr.Dinks206]

@button poetry. why did you guys delete "the story" by Hieu Minh Nguyen. that poem has helped me a lot in my life and i really need to hear it today.

[@jazminmontesdeoca]

Hey! I just wanted to tell you that the original video is still up. Maybe they blocked it for a few months? Anyway, if it was the case, you can find it again now.

[@shadinasser7107]

I don't know if this is incorrect, but I read his name as Hu man YouWin.

[@priscilaperson3784]

Omg , wow Great poem

[@tomtom9889]

Amazing poetry. Super jealous of his asian freckles.

[@quirkyblackenby]

Wow