> Bruised Children>

by Lisa
(N.H.)

Bruised Sad Child

Bask in me
You
A sweet young girl with tender eyes
Banished to her room, alone, she cries
Somewhere inside her spirit dies
I think this is a shame

She listens as her mom and dad
Yell at her and say she’s bad
It’s all her fault when they get mad
She thinks she is to blame

A little boy with dark sullen stare
Listens as they curse and swear
Just wishing he could hide somewhere
Why do they call him names?

He once was happy. Would sing a song
He had good friends who tagged along
What has happened? What went wrong?
Why is his family strained?

A tender girl, a precious boy
Should only know of love and joy
Play and laugh and share their toys
They should not know this pain

Harsh, angry words. Mean, cruel tones
Hurt much more than sticks and stones
Breaking more than children’s bones
I think adults should refrain

When as parents, we lose control
And we destroy those tiny souls
How will they ever be made whole?
How will they laugh again?