Grey-haired Old Man (poem) by Annette Hansen on AuthorsDen

Grey-haired Old Man
by Annette Hansen → (All Poetry by Annette Hansen)
Rated "R" by the Author.

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This deals with a sensitive topic, but I hope it speaks for the many silent victims

“Grey-haired old man” Come here little girl Come sit on my knee We can be friends You and me Your hair is so fine So gentle and fair Come sit on my knee and stroke my grey hair I’ll help you up There … is that good? I like your new coat With a lovely red hood You sit on my knee and play with my hair I like yours too So blonde and so fair Can I touch you? Under your skirt? It just takes a moment It really won’t hurt Okay, if you say so I like to play No, please don’t do that I don’t like it that way But baby, you love it You know that you do I just need a moment A minute or two She sat there and waited Until he was done It wasn’t a game It wasn’t so fun He wasn’t a friend to this child anymore A monster he was with ten thousand claws He’d be in the hallway Late every night and come to her room to turn out the light She’d lie in the darkness Hearing him come Under the blankets sucking her thumb Where is it safe now? There’s nowhere to hide Dark thoughts in her mind And tears that she cried She lost so much more That day in the sun She lost the woman She’d never become He tore that away with a touch of his hand This grey-haired old friend This dirty old man © Annette Hansen 2000

Reviewed by M. Kenneth Coleman (Reader)

Reviewed on September 22, 2007

This is a very insightful and powerful poem. It's very well crafted. It's such a shame for inocents to be stolen especially by a elder, someone that should've been a protector and care giver.

Reviewed by Annette Hendrix Williams (Reader)

Reviewed on September 11, 2007

Thank you for saying that. Grey haired old men sure can be hateful.

Reviewed by Joyce Bowling

Reviewed on October 16, 2006

Wow! What a powerful write, one that many people would rather not hear about, sort of out of sight out of mind, or if it isn't them they don't want to hear about it. This is the kind of issue that I have dealt with more than what I would ever have dreamed I would to. But every child deserves a safe childhood, and if that safety has been invaded they deserve a safety haven, I try to be that for my students...very realistic poem.
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling

Reviewed by Lin Edwards (Reader)

Reviewed on January 17, 2006

Boy, can I relate to this one! For me it's the betrayal of trust that's so hard to deal with. Little girls should be able to trust their elders, especially relatives, and it's a violent shock when you find that you can't. Thanks for the poem.