Thursday, September 01, 2011

Voices

Boy is sent to his room
without dinner or explanation
"You should know why"
(the voice of passive aggression)

Boy is hurt
but has no outlet
for that emotion
(the voice of anger is also wrong)

So he dampens the flame
says he feels nothing
because that's better than pain
(the voice of thought over emotion)

The boy is blue
the world a sadder place
though no one notices
(the voice of depression grows stronger)

He's a sensitive boy
He's so shy
You know how introverts are
(the voice of rationalization)

So no one sees his pain
he hides it even from himself
but it grows within him
(waiting for the voice of compassion)

/ / /

This poem was written to the 3 + (x) = Poem prompt at We Write Poems. Thanks to Amy Barlow Liberatore for the prompt idea and We Write Poems for using it.

4 comments:

  1. Oh, Richard, this is excellent! I have known children like this. So sad.

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  2. Mary, thank you. That boy is not too much different than the boy I used to be.

    Richard

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  3. I love this, and the amazing awareness that understands this child's reality. You are obviously a wonderful teacher!

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  4. Sherry, thank you. It helps if you reflect on your own childhood.

    Richard

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