A Child's Lament
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:18 am
In Stephen's thread I referred to the idea of addressing current issues in verse written for children. For too many kids, childhood isn't all teddy bears and rainbows. Here's an example.
A Child’s Lament
You’re not home again tonight, mother,
and I don’t know where you are.
Must I search for you again, mother,
in the nearest hotel bar?
Does it ever cross your mind, mother,
that you’ve left me home alone?
Just a child of only ten, mother,
must I get by on my own?
There is no food in the house, mother,
and no money to buy more,
though you said we’d be all right, mother,
like so many times before.
Will I have to lead you home, mother,
on that long, slow walk of shame?
Do you wish I wasn’t born, mother?
Will you say that I’m to blame?
Are you lying somewhere hurt, mother,
from another drunken brawl?
Will we need a doctor’s help, mother?
Will policemen come to call?
Uncle Charlie’s just come home, mother,
and I’m scared what he might do.
Will he beat me with his fists, mother,
like he often does with you?
Now I’m wandering the streets, mother,
with such sadness in my heart
at the promises you gave, mother,
that we’d make a fresh new start.
I am lost and so afraid, mother,
and I need you here with me.
What direction should I take, mother,
for the adult I might be?
© David Campbell 07/12/14
A Child’s Lament
You’re not home again tonight, mother,
and I don’t know where you are.
Must I search for you again, mother,
in the nearest hotel bar?
Does it ever cross your mind, mother,
that you’ve left me home alone?
Just a child of only ten, mother,
must I get by on my own?
There is no food in the house, mother,
and no money to buy more,
though you said we’d be all right, mother,
like so many times before.
Will I have to lead you home, mother,
on that long, slow walk of shame?
Do you wish I wasn’t born, mother?
Will you say that I’m to blame?
Are you lying somewhere hurt, mother,
from another drunken brawl?
Will we need a doctor’s help, mother?
Will policemen come to call?
Uncle Charlie’s just come home, mother,
and I’m scared what he might do.
Will he beat me with his fists, mother,
like he often does with you?
Now I’m wandering the streets, mother,
with such sadness in my heart
at the promises you gave, mother,
that we’d make a fresh new start.
I am lost and so afraid, mother,
and I need you here with me.
What direction should I take, mother,
for the adult I might be?
© David Campbell 07/12/14