Five children born in just five short years
To a drug addicted uncaring mother
She lets her boyfriend of-the-moment have total control
God forbid she upset her lover
The children show up for their weekly visit filthy
And the oldest one is bruised around his eye
"Someone really should do something about this"
"Leave it alone and keep the peace" was the reply
Twenty-five absences from school this year
Truancy officers called repeatedly to their home
Weak excuses of illnesses keep them at bay
These children are still left to fend on their own
The neighbors all whisper about why they never play outside
And let their eyes hit the ground when they pass by
For to look at these pitiful babies dead on
Would not allow their consciences to deny
Five children that could have been anything they wanted
So brilliant, beautiful and pure
Were finally ripped away from the hell they had known
Kicks were delivered to the oldest one that could no longer be endured
Everyone cried at the injustice
Of a system that had failed
But these children's lives were filled
With whispers and suppressed wails
Author notes
I created a story about one topic that you seem to get that about a lot... how the system fails abused children. In reality, it is every grandparent, cousin, aunt, teacher, neighbor, anyone... that sees an abused child and does nothing to intervene.
Gold in LadyWiccae's contest allpoetry.com/Contest/596054
Written April 21st, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- ~*~ One Hour Contest # 5~*~ by Onyx Dragon.
300 points, ended April 21, 2004, 7 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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I can relate to this poem
I've seen it happen all too often, kids taken away from drug addicted parents or single parent. I personally have been caught up in the middle of a nasty seperation, kids taken away by the system, from a junkie. Not a pretty picture, and one I hope never to see again. Your poem brings back painful memories but at the same time, your poem I do appreciate for raising awareness to this problem in our society. Another great write and thanks for sharing.
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congrats!
so sad and so true....I think you did an excellent job at explaining the way society wroks....
Peace and love
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This is a very strong indictment of everyone who turns away or decides not to get involved - you obviously feel very strongly about this subject. Well done.
Scott -
excellent
what a wonderful poem.and thanks again for the comment you made on "alone in addiction".i don't know how i kept it together durning my addiction but i guess i was called a functioning addict for yrs.Jacki d..(that song "hurt"is my fave too -
This is really sad...my heart goes out to children who have to live like this...anyway congrads on winning, and thanks for sharing...
take care
-Stac- -
This is so wonderfully written..it's great..very sad topic..but true. Lots of people everyday turn a blind eye to the abuse that our children endure. No child deserves to be treated this way and I agree with HellFire..Whoever beats their children should be, themselves, beat to death. It happens daily and I still don't know how people that do these kind of things, can live with themselves..Great poem. You expressed your feeling so well as always...LOL Thank you so much for sharing your great work with us all..
Bambie -
Whoever beats their children should be,themselves,beat to death.
Many people misunderstand that beating is NOT the way to raise a child. Its hard yes,but beating the child isnt going to solve a thing. It just going to make the child hate the parent...and they'd have every right.
-J.
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Congratulations!!! I completely agree with you - I lived next door to this woman who I could have sworn was beating her children - I heard her screaming at them in the middle of the night when they cried (hell, they were no older than 3 or 4!) and a loud thud once. Know what she claimed was that thud? She said she threw a bicycle against the wall! Come on, you don't do that!!! So we called DYFS on her, but they claimed they needed physical evidence. She was high all the time, the halls always smelled like marijuana...I don't know what happened with the kids, turns out a friend of hers told my ex not to stick his nose in other people's business. Soon after, she was evicted for not paying the rent. Don't know what happened to the kids but I hope they're not with her...at least we did call when we suspected it. Damn the system! Well written hon and once again congrats!
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You're so right about it all. How can the system help if no one reports it? But then again, I have my own views on the "system" also. A strong hitting write mate. Well done on the trophey
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Congratulations! Very powerful poem. Heart-wrenching because it is the truth, for so many children. This makes my heart hurt and I thank you for it. Sometimes it forgets.
Jill -
LOL YAAAAAAAAAY You WON
Congrats
Destiny/misty whatever lol -
this was a wonderful poem~! I enjoyed every minute of it and it was very well written. Thank you for entering honey.
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ACK We chose the very same subject. LOL I agree with you. I've felt like this a lot. When I was little I was the child that no one helped. Great job on this, good luck to you in the contest.
-Destiny- -
you are so right... this is an excellent write . this is so sad. best of luck to you in the contest.
Lea
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