What can we do for the broken child?

[PrinceMyshkin]

What can we do for the broken child?

Hold her with tenderness
and with respect.

Sing to her of our own
former distress,

offer her the wholeness,
the love and the strength
we almost forgot we possess.

And that’s what the broken child
can do for us.



J. Newman © February, 2010

[AuntShecky]

Good sounds in this piece, the "s" endings, like a soothing whisper.
As to the content, it seems valid, but I'm not sure that "we" should "sing to her of our own distress," as that might upset her even more.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Good sounds in this piece, the "s" endings, like a soothing whisper.
As to the content, it seems valid, but I'm not sure that "we" should "sing to her of our own distress," as that might upset her even more.

I hoped the reader would focus on "former" distress, the singer's strategy being to convey I was in trouble once, too; I was broken, but now I am whole...

I wonder why the content only "seems" valid to you?

[Buh4Bee]

I actually like the cyclic nature of this poem.

[Virgil]

A sobering piece. And very good, especially for those "s" sounds that Aunty points out. This is one of those poems that weighs down on one's heart.

[qimissung]

It's sweet, like a lullaby. I'm not sure I like the "sing to her of our own former distress" line either. I think singing to her of tomorrow's hope might be a better plan, although I realize that is inevitably going to lead to someone singing "tomorrow, tomorrow, the sun'll come out tomorrow..." wince.