* I wrote this because someone told me that homeless children frightened them, and deserved what they got...Life on the streets...I beg to differ. I work and know many such children, and their life in this rude world breaks my heart.
Dawn’s Children
They are Dawn’s Children,
Passing through life like little wraiths,
Rarely seen by anyone,
Children who have lost their faith,
In men,
In women,
In life…
I see hunger in their eyes,
A yearning to be loved,
To be held and comforted,
To be seen as worthy…
My arms ache to reach out,
And comfort them,
Dress them in warm clothes,
To show them the beauty,
They can not feel nor see,
Beauty that dwells so deeply inside of them,
Beauty they covet in others,
Thinking it is not for them,
But it is!
Say something nice to them,
See the wary look they give,
Watch their eyes light up,
When they realize you mean it!
Take note of how they move closer to you,
Feeling noticed and loved for the first time,
These lovely children of the dawn,
Have you seen them too?
Do they frighten you,
With their rough clothes,
And weary eyes?
They break my heart,
But I know I must save them now,
Before they lost forever,
Before someone else,
Must save you from them…
I am speechless, you are a warrior, when I say sister, I say it from the heart, man can never know the pain, of darkness until he lives it through the eyes of love, in this life, some may feel, we have given a lot, but in order to lead, one must serve, I have a lot of work to do, but I honor you my sister, I can learn a lot from you, we think sometime its the little things we do in life is great, but never have we been so wrong, to confort the pain of a damage heart, these are the things, God look for us in man, never thinking of self, but for those who have no one to care, I pray every day for guidance, that I can give much more than I give, God continue to touch your heart, you have gotten a testomony from me, I shall try to learn though your eyes, may God bless, and peace be unto your house. Sister to Sister of Gods house.
I have been lucky in not seeing very many street kids, they do the same to me, they make me feel that I have to take each one in and help them to grow with a nice life, rather than the terror they can experience on the street...a painful write, Retta, Find Peace, Ed & Rufuz
There's little I can add to the cogent comments below, except to say that this is a beautiful write from a heart that is illuminated with truth and accessed by eyes that have a will to see and ears to hear the pain of the marginalised and voiceless. As Jackie Pullinger, who works amongst drug-addicts in Hong Kong, has said: "We should have hard soles and tender hearts - not hard hearts and tender soles" and should try to walk a mile in one of these little ones' shoes... TY Kate xx
Reviewed by Katy Walsvik (Reader)
Reviewed on October 17, 2004
Retta, how easy it would have been, and accurate, to spend your poetic words on berating that ignorant, insensitive attitude you mentioned... BUT... instead, you brought to life these human realities, written with compassion, inviting us to see, not just their sadness, but their quiet journey to be cared about.
I believe you spent your words generously and I am touched by them. It is the compassion, not the ignorance that moves the world forward, toward making things better. Wonderful piece. katy xox.
sounds like he/she has a homeless heart ... very powerful poem!
Reviewed by Thomas Lanechanger (Reader)
Reviewed on October 16, 2004
Retta, this piece just absolutely ripped my heart out! You are so right, and this outstanding composition is truly a heartbreaking gem. No child should ever be put into the streets, nor should they falter because some misguided fool has the audacity to say something as stupid as whomever said what was said about children getting what they deserve living on the streets. It just burns me up when children are discarded like trash. It’s no wonder that so many children turn to drugs and alcohol. An extremely powerful write. Thank you for sharing it. Take care and be well.
Superb answer to the foolish person who is ignorant of the fact that no child deserves to be out on the street Period!!! they may need to learn some lessons, but what they need most is someone to listen , understand, and help them find what is necessary to cope with their situation, whatever it is. Bless you for caring Reindeer!I do too!
Such a heartwrenching problem, a heartwrenching piece. What children need most in life is love and security. Unfortunately, so many don't receive either. Lovely job Retta. Michelle
This is very poignant, Reindeer, and it takes me back some years. I was told that if I misbehaved, God would take my parents as punishment. That orphans were concequently marked by sin; they were orphans because they were bad. One hell of a load to drop on a child. I suppose the same principle applies to homeless children -- yeah -- must have done something bad -- you bet. The worse kind of child abuse is what these so called adults implant in their vulnerable minds. Great poem!
I often think that "love" is what these children craves for. Many of them are misunderstood by others. Their kindness and sweetness are hidden beneath the roughness of their outer disguise, and deep inside all those roughness is a beautiful soul that is yearning to come out to love and be loved.
Yes, we have to be kind to them. A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
You have penned a wonderful inspiring and thoughful poem.
Compassionate sentiments spoken from a heart of gold Retta...
This torn world needs more angels like you to dispense comfort and consolation to the needy and the poor...
Peter
A truly heartfelt piece, Reindeer, and I often wonder what's happened to so many members of mankind that they could even possibly make such a horrible statement.
Kudos for speaking out on behalf of these far too often neglected souls.
Reindeer - thanks for this. When I worked with the homeless 15 years ago, women and children were the fastest growing segment of homeless. It is heartbreaking that so many people are frightened by what they don't understand or what makes them uncomfortable.
Superb write, for I feel much the same way, and when I read this, I felt the tug of my heart. While in the service overseas, I witnessed such horrible conditions and children living in squalor on the mean streets. When they saw you, they with their tattered clothes would beg and beg for anything that you had, I learned quickly that a pocket full of candy bars went a long way...the sad thing is, that these conditions are starting to become more prevalent here in America...so sad it is...thanks for this write.
Touching write and so very true...
God Bless
Michelle~
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on October 15, 2004
When I was at my lowest time and had few pennies of my own I give up what I had to a homeless child, knowing they had it a lot rougher and told him to get himself something warm. I walked away wondering if it helped any and as I walked past him later that day he smiled at me and I knew it had helped :-) I feel the same way you do. Thank you for such a touching write.
Five years have passed. The sequel to the award-winning Chapel of Eternal Love, this book revisits the same couples in the first book, and where the lives have taken them since they left the altar at The Chapel of Eternal Love
South Baltimore serves as the backdrop for this gripping story of three brothers leading very different lives but joined forever by the secrets of a painful family past.
Five years have passed. The sequel to the award-winning Chapel of Eternal Love, this book revisits the same couples in the first book, and where the lives have taken them since they left the altar at The Chapel of Eternal Love
Share
Print
Save
Follow
"...my arms ache to reach out
and comfort them
dress them in warm clothes
to show them the beauty
they can not feel or see...."
so why not? a clarion call to action are your profoundly moving words--thank you
this needs to be shouted from the rooftops and put in the hands of all who care
thank you for being their voice
(((HUGS))) and love, and many grateful tears, karla. :(
Showed care and affection that live in your heart.
This is true beauty of your heart.
Thanks Sharing this ...
I loved it.
N
I believe you spent your words generously and I am touched by them. It is the compassion, not the ignorance that moves the world forward, toward making things better. Wonderful piece. katy xox.
WILLIAM ....PEACE
Believe Me:I Do So Meditate Each & Every Night That It Will Does Happens To Them Too !
Excellent!
Carmen :-)
Lovely photo ... and another supreme write from a poetess unique! Bravo!!
Robert
that well remember what goes around comes around.
Excellent!
Yes, we have to be kind to them. A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
You have penned a wonderful inspiring and thoughful poem.
Sandie May Angel :o)
This torn world needs more angels like you to dispense comfort and consolation to the needy and the poor...
Peter
Kudos for speaking out on behalf of these far too often neglected souls.
M.Rose
Love Tinka
I'll never understand life, or humans.
Love, Bonnie
Allen
Touching write and so very true...
God Bless
Michelle~