Four Years Old
The End of Innocence124 total reviews
Comment from sgalletti
Oh my God Curt! You absolutely crushed me emotionally with this poem. Powerful words, powerful images. And, unfortunately, so true for too many of our children. I want to castrate the bastards! Well written poem that evokes many emotions. Sue
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
  |
Oh my God Curt! You absolutely crushed me emotionally with this poem. Powerful words, powerful images. And, unfortunately, so true for too many of our children. I want to castrate the bastards! Well written poem that evokes many emotions. Sue
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Sue,
I voted for that too, but somebody thought that would be "cruel and unusual" punishment.
I wonder if they would feel that way if it happened to their children, God forbid.
Thank you my friend, I truly appreciate your thoughts,
Curt
Comment from SamanthaD.
Oh my,
I'm not sure what to say. This poem is so disturnbing and sad. However, your use of language is incredible. The last stanza,"It happened in a neighborhood
where everyone said things were good
but four year olds don't wish to die
unless no one will hear their cry." speaks volumes. It's true that children don't lie about things like this. As a teacher (and a human being), this breaks my heart.
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
Oh my,
I'm not sure what to say. This poem is so disturnbing and sad. However, your use of language is incredible. The last stanza,"It happened in a neighborhood
where everyone said things were good
but four year olds don't wish to die
unless no one will hear their cry." speaks volumes. It's true that children don't lie about things like this. As a teacher (and a human being), this breaks my heart.
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Samantha,
I know from personal experience that socila servicces and child welfare systems are in dire need of not only staffing of competent case workers, but also an entire restructuring of policies and education in order to be truly effective.
Case in point-
A man was convicted of sodomizing his eighteen month old son.
His sentence? Three years probation and counseling for the duration.
Same group-
Twenty three year old man served five years in prison for having sex when he was just eighteen with his fifteen year old girlfriend. After his parole, in which he was not allowed to see his "victim," they married.
I have no answers when our system acts like this.
Thank you for listening, and for your most welcome comments.
Curt
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Well, I am not sure how to write a review for this. The structure of your poem is very good. It flows smoothly and is easy to read, except for the subject matter. My heart goes out to all children in that situation.
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
Well, I am not sure how to write a review for this. The structure of your poem is very good. It flows smoothly and is easy to read, except for the subject matter. My heart goes out to all children in that situation.
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Thank you Barbara, mine does too.
Most sincerely,
Curt
Comment from Gert sherwood
Curt,
this is shocking poem was hard to read on account of the abuse to a four year old boy.
God knows what he did to the eight year old girl
I thought I was sexually abused by more then 5 people when I was a child, until I read your poem
Hope the child told his mother.
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
Curt,
this is shocking poem was hard to read on account of the abuse to a four year old boy.
God knows what he did to the eight year old girl
I thought I was sexually abused by more then 5 people when I was a child, until I read your poem
Hope the child told his mother.
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Thank you Gert.
The eight year old girl never was abused.
Sexual abuse comes in many forms, this is probably as bad as you want to hear about. Sadly, I've heard worse.
Thank you again my friend,
Curt
-
Hello Curt, You are welcome.
I know one thing that was very sickeing that happened to me-- Which I don't even want to talk about.
Gert
-
I understand your feelings Gert, and if you ever feel the need to expose the demon to the light, I am only a PM away.
-
Thank you Curt
Gert
Comment from joemass
G'day Curt
It's brave and courageous of you to write about the subject you have. You may be pleased to know that I think you've written about it extraoridarily well.
Good luck!
Joe
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
 |
G'day Curt
It's brave and courageous of you to write about the subject you have. You may be pleased to know that I think you've written about it extraoridarily well.
Good luck!
Joe
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Joe,
I am always pleased to see your thoughts, you are quite honest and forthright in your opinions, and I respect that in you.
Even if we disagree about water. :-}
I am honored, my friend,
Curt
Comment from Adri7enne
Please tell me it's not autobiographical, Curt. It was painful to read. I'd want to wrap a victim like this in cotton wool and protect him against ever stubbing his toe. God! It gave me a pain up my spine reading this. I was cringing all the way through. You really know how to create an atmosphere, a scene out of Dante's Inferno. Damn, that kind of poetry makes me want to curse and rage. Powerful images, evoking intense emotions.
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
Please tell me it's not autobiographical, Curt. It was painful to read. I'd want to wrap a victim like this in cotton wool and protect him against ever stubbing his toe. God! It gave me a pain up my spine reading this. I was cringing all the way through. You really know how to create an atmosphere, a scene out of Dante's Inferno. Damn, that kind of poetry makes me want to curse and rage. Powerful images, evoking intense emotions.
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Ok, I won't tell you.
It wasn't an easy write for me, I'll tell you that. When you tell me that I created the atmosphere, I know then that you feel what I am trying to express. That is the highest compliment I can hope for.
Blessinfs,
Curt
-
It's a courageous and healing thing to open up the wounds and reveal the innocent child within. It breaks my heart to know that this kind of cruelty was perpetrated on the innocent, lovely child in that picture. You're a brave, courageous man, and a brilliant poet. Be well, Curt.
-
I am not very good at accepting this kind of praise, but I am touched.
Thank you,
Curt
Comment from MABarrett
I'm somewhere between wanting to throw up and wanting to beat the ever-loving crap out of someone. This was a tough read. I don't think it could have been written better. And while I wont say its a good poem, I will say its a powerful one. Tough subject matter and I have a hell of a lot of respect for the courage it took to take it on.
~Melissa
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
I'm somewhere between wanting to throw up and wanting to beat the ever-loving crap out of someone. This was a tough read. I don't think it could have been written better. And while I wont say its a good poem, I will say its a powerful one. Tough subject matter and I have a hell of a lot of respect for the courage it took to take it on.
~Melissa
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Melissa,
Then you know how I felt writing this work. I wish I could say that I have rid myself of all the anger, but the truth is I hope he burns in hell forever, and God lets me visit on weekends with a spiked baseball bat.
I am honored Melissa, thank you.
Curt
-
If God lets you may I accompany you? *Hugs*
-
B.Y.O.B. (bring your own bat) :-}
Comment from melyuki
Morning to you Curt, sharing these thoughts wouldn't have been altogether easy and I really praise you for having the courage to let go of such a nightmare in such a public place. That in itself has got to help remove just a small incling of the pain that continues to draw energy from your inner self. No one could imagine the hurt , the horror and the torture, unless having been there, and you certainly have brought some of those feelings into your poem to allow us to see from an outsider's place, how overwhelmingly shameful an act so vile, could make a little boy of 4 really feel.
You have a wonderful heart Curt, to share this with the hope of helping others inflicted by similar circumstances. Please goodness, as time continues in your life's journey, the heart wrenching emotions will one day subside enough to ride through your future, knowing that you are a beautiful soul inside and out.. sending hugs from Melxxxx
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
Morning to you Curt, sharing these thoughts wouldn't have been altogether easy and I really praise you for having the courage to let go of such a nightmare in such a public place. That in itself has got to help remove just a small incling of the pain that continues to draw energy from your inner self. No one could imagine the hurt , the horror and the torture, unless having been there, and you certainly have brought some of those feelings into your poem to allow us to see from an outsider's place, how overwhelmingly shameful an act so vile, could make a little boy of 4 really feel.
You have a wonderful heart Curt, to share this with the hope of helping others inflicted by similar circumstances. Please goodness, as time continues in your life's journey, the heart wrenching emotions will one day subside enough to ride through your future, knowing that you are a beautiful soul inside and out.. sending hugs from Melxxxx
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Hi Mel,
I am deeply touched by your thoughts. It took a long time for me not to feel the anger so intensely. Trying to understand "why" has been my goal, but I must confess I don't have the answer yet.
But I will strive on 'til I do.
Thank you again Mel,
Curt
-
striving on, with your head held high, searching for an answer has got to be a positive healthy way to head Curt. Hopefully one day, the "why's" will unravel
the knots that stil exist. take care, hugs from Melxx
Comment from Kellytr
Curt,
This was very tough to read - though masterly crafted as usual. You do shake things out of the trees, don't you? This is the power, and sometimes I think the duty, of a writer. This one will stay with me for a while - so glad you have the fortitude to tell it like it is. Kelly
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
Curt,
This was very tough to read - though masterly crafted as usual. You do shake things out of the trees, don't you? This is the power, and sometimes I think the duty, of a writer. This one will stay with me for a while - so glad you have the fortitude to tell it like it is. Kelly
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Kelly,
LOL, yes, I shake the tree, and all kinds of things fall out.
Some of the nuts that fall are harder to crack, but thay all yield a plant of words for me to harvest. I simply pick them and share them with you.
Thanks Kelly,
Curt
Comment from Joan E.
BTW--congrats on "winning" Nannette's the riddle contest.
Now, for your courageous poem. I'm glad you could get rid of some of the spleen and demons. I will never forget your powerful lines about "four year olds" not lying with blood or wishing to die. I was amazed that you could construct such strong rhymes around the difficult subject matter. Mothers being in denial about these horrific events seem more common place them we would expect.
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
|
BTW--congrats on "winning" Nannette's the riddle contest.
Now, for your courageous poem. I'm glad you could get rid of some of the spleen and demons. I will never forget your powerful lines about "four year olds" not lying with blood or wishing to die. I was amazed that you could construct such strong rhymes around the difficult subject matter. Mothers being in denial about these horrific events seem more common place them we would expect.
Comment Written 27-Feb-2010
reply by the author on 27-Feb-2010
-
Thank you Joan.
I know that theme has been a part of several of my pieces, because I lived with denial all my life. I wish that no child ever has to grow up with a mother who would allow this to happen, because I am convinced after all my experiences that no one could not know what is going on with their own children.
Thank you again Joan,
Curt
