30 « June « 2008 « The People Behind My Eyes

Back when I was one and a flower was still a flower
And daylight meant a new beginning not a continuation of yesterday’s horror.
Back when I was one
When I saw colour for what it could be instead of simply what it was.
Possibility seemed like confinement,
Holding me back from soaring as high as the swings would let me go.
I could touch the sky feet first, pig tails flying behind me
Smile as bright as the sun
Back when I was one.
When I answered to one name and reflected one face
When I didn’t flinch at the slightest blowing of the wind
Or squint as hope shone too brightly, threatening happiness I felt too filthy to embrace.
When I could see a crayon and not tear up
Touch a rag doll and not go limp
See a climbing tree as a challenge
And never settle for being uprooted, starved and tossed into the fire.
Then, and only then did my eyes beam full of life.
But now I can not see, not like before I knew what it meant to be homeless and hungry, afraid and in need or
Before I knew the difference between I and We.

Poem and art title: One
Poem date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008-12:17 midnight EST
Entry date: Monday, June 30th, 2008 0 9:20AM EST

After reading Enola’s entry outlining the outrageous and baffling comments by a lawmaker, reasonable people could feel nothing less than sadness, despair and heart stopping fear for the degraded condition this society has settled itself into and gotten comfortable in. Her entry outlines a defense attorney’s horrific comments as he discusses child rape and the death penalty. The YouTube presentation is one that I personally will remember. His words are here: “I’m going to make sure that the rest of their life is ruined, that when they’re 8 years old, they throw up; when they’re 12 years old, they won’t sleep; when they’re 19 years old, they’ll have nightmares and they’ll never have a relationship with anybody.” Clearly he has never heard of the ideals behind the Decleration of the Rights of Children or it’s amendments. If he had any idea at all what it means to do the right thing he would have kept his mouth shut. If he had any listened to himself just once he would hear himself go against every single idea there is behind caring for and loving our children. Continue reading ‘Declaration of the Rights of the Child’