Would you guide me somewhere safe?
I can't help but trust you
Your very presence assures me
How could you be
A monster
A mean old man
Or scary lady?
Will you tuck me in at night
And scare away all the things under my bed
Read me a story
And give me a kiss
Why would I ever suspect
That something is amiss?
I've been told to respect you
To understand that there is someone
Bigger than me
Smarter than me
Who knows more
Has seen more
And would only protect me.
I see the world
Through new eyes
I could never realize
That there are people
Who would want to hurt me
After all
I am only a child.
After hearing about the shooting in Newtown, CT and reading article upon article that tries to make sense of what happened, it's clear to me that what happened will never make sense. To descend upon a school of children, who are the most vulnerable, weak, and innocent in society, is an act that can never be explained, analyzed, rationalized, "psychologized" or understood. Don't bring proofs or reasoning. Just hug your child, sister, brother, or parent a little bit tighter. Give thanks for everything that is good in your life. And pray that those families who lost a loved one, an innocent child, or mother or sister can eventually find some comfort and happiness.
Wow...this is a beautiful poem. It captures what goes through little children's minds. They learn to trust and look up to adults and then BAM! This blows it...badly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this poem.