The task of growing up has always been and will always be more difficult for some children than others.
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Scorned She wasn’t a pretty girl at all—
Puffy-eyed and pale-skinned, Her face was dotted heavily with freckles, Not the trademark of beauty it is considered today. Oily, dirty blonde hair hung limply about Her face, Having gone weeks, perhaps months without washing. Her nails and hands had the look of never having known The cleansing power of a rushing mountain stream. And the same was true of the faded garments She wore. She was an unhappy child—
Never a smile escaped Her clinched, angry lips. It was easy to read sadness in Her gray eyes. Besides, what reason did She have for happiness, When Others spoke in tones They meant Her to hear? You're touching that book, and Her hands held it a while ago! Did you know She sat there during our morning break? Most of the class says they aren’t sending Her a valentine! Did They think She was totally deaf—unable to hear The words that issued from Their ugly mouths daily?
I have thought of her many times over the years—
Is She still alive, and if so, where does She live? Does She hold bitterness in Her aging heart? Has the tunnel to Her forgiveness been forever sealed? How would She react now to the unkindness of years gone by? Did Someone rescue Her from the heartache of Her youth? If so, were there children and grandchildren to cuddle and rock? During our childhood, did She look at me through gray eyes And know I disapproved of the way Others treated Her? I hope so...
Dear David, this poem makes me feel so sad. It made me think of a similar, straggly-haired girl with an odor from my class. I did count her as a friend, but she was ostracized by many throughout her school days. I treasure a small valentine she gave me one Valentine's Day. To me, it symbolized her struggles among her classmates. You can see it with my poem "The Valentine Box"
Your poem, "Scorned" is so beautiful and heart-rending. I think probably most of us have known a child like this. With Diana, I agree that your young friend knew and was comforted by your compassion that kept you from joining in treating her badly.
Sincerely,
Connie
I DON'T KNOW WHAT GRADE YOU WERE IN BUT I DO KNOW THAT MOST YOUNGSTERS, OR FOR THAT MATTER ADULTS, HARDLY HAVE THE STRENGTH TO 'GO AGAINST THE PLOUGH' AND STAND UP FOR ANY GIVEN REASON KNOWING THAT TO DO SO WOULD INITIATE THE WRATH OF THE PERPETRATORS UPON THEIR OWN HEADS. I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T 'JOIN IN' WAS A GOOD STEP AND WE CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT GOD, WHO LOVES US ALL EQUALLY, EVENTUALLY BROUGHT THAT OPPRESSED YOUNGSTER INTO A BETTER PLACE IN HER LIFE. SAD STORY BUT GOD HAS A WAY OF USING ALL THE BAD THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR PAST FOR THE PRESENT GOOD AS HE USES US TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS. THANKS FOR SHARING, DAVID, LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS
I sense a bit of guilt in your poem. I think you could have befriended her and helped her get past some of the criticism she was subject to. Back in the 1950s, there always seemed to be kids who were ostracized. They were usually poor and from "bad" families. I remember my friend three houses down, Kenny Johnson. He wet the bed, had green teeth, and sang like an angel.
I recall at my 20th reunion, an attractive woman, a secretary now in Milwaukee, was the life of the party even though no one remembered her in our class. And then, after my 50th, Judy, a woman who nursed her husband's illness until he died and raised her two daughters to be successful, now with a rental business contacted me by email out of the blue. She said she was in our class and didn't come to the 50th because she only attended half of our senior year and only had one friend, who was at the reunion and told her about me. We have since exchanged many emails.
As Diana said, this is full of compassion,and that's something sorely lacking in this world today more than ever. I was bullied in school, and was not much more than a Kewpie doll. That's why I took up boxing, and probably why I developed my sense of humor. My own kids got bullied, and Today I see my G-kids being bullied, only now it's done more through social media, which makes it worse than ever. Yes, we need compassion more than ever.
I hope this girl found happiness later in life. School children can be cruel to ones who are different. I never approved of their behavior, but did I ever stand up for such a person? I did only once. Countless other times I didn't. I should have. We all should have.
This poem overflows with compassion for that poor young girl...children can be so cruel..Her experiences perhaps made her a wiser and more compassionate person to others because of what she endured...and in time perhaps a wonderful, caring Mother...with wisdom to guide her own children..
I have a similar memory of a young eleven year old girl who was cruelly scorned by our teacher one day..., a man of religion who should have known better...she was innocent, and he reduced her to a quivering, sobbing wreck...a small, plain, poorly dressed little girl with National Health glasses, who came from a large family. The memory still pains me...a week after this incident, her mother committed suicide...
As for did she know you disapproved of the way Others treated her...I am sure she did
David...Your kind personality will have shone through...rest assured...She will have known....
She never felt safe at home as a young girl, and didn't understand why when she finally escaped she wasn't safe in the big wide world either ...effectively jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!
The true story of Cheryl Pierson Cuccio who made headlines in 1986 and her husband Rob Cuccio. Cheryl was abused sexually and physically and Rob died for 43 minutes on Cheryl's 43rd birthday.
We Will Stone Him is a raw, unfiltered trauma memoir about surviving childhood abuse, emotional manipulation, and the lifelong wounds that follow. This true story marks the beginning of the Rising From The Ashes Trilogy, John Gambacorta and his survi
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Your poem, "Scorned" is so beautiful and heart-rending. I think probably most of us have known a child like this. With Diana, I agree that your young friend knew and was comforted by your compassion that kept you from joining in treating her badly.
Sincerely,
Connie
I recall at my 20th reunion, an attractive woman, a secretary now in Milwaukee, was the life of the party even though no one remembered her in our class. And then, after my 50th, Judy, a woman who nursed her husband's illness until he died and raised her two daughters to be successful, now with a rental business contacted me by email out of the blue. She said she was in our class and didn't come to the 50th because she only attended half of our senior year and only had one friend, who was at the reunion and told her about me. We have since exchanged many emails.
Ron
I have a similar memory of a young eleven year old girl who was cruelly scorned by our teacher one day..., a man of religion who should have known better...she was innocent, and he reduced her to a quivering, sobbing wreck...a small, plain, poorly dressed little girl with National Health glasses, who came from a large family. The memory still pains me...a week after this incident, her mother committed suicide...
As for did she know you disapproved of the way Others treated her...I am sure she did
David...Your kind personality will have shone through...rest assured...She will have known....