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Open Poetry #48
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MICHELMAS
Member
since 2012-02-15
Posts 305
Lancashire England

0 posted 2012-05-02 04:02 AM



A Child of Time

Cigarette packets and cans of coke
Lie in the gutters that are so choked
Discarded needles glisten in the sun
Who knows what damage that they have done
Deprived inner cities where the ghosts don’t walk
Where people shout and no-one will talk
A fair haired girl sits in the gutter
With staring eyes no word does she utter
Her world of innocence in a world unclean
I wish I was her and I envy her dream

Time has passed, or so it seems
The girl returns to her street of dreams
Her hair now no longer fair
But her eyes retain that vacant stare
Her days on earth now running out
She too can’t talk, can only shout
A bright new needle then thrown in the gutter
Her vision blurred and her words a stutter
She falls to the floor a girl of chalk
And dies in the city where the ghosts don’t walk

A chilly wind blows down the street
Disturbs the footprints in the dust from her feet
But no-one here has time to cry
There are no tears their eyes are dry
And as I shiver by the last red ember
I think of her and I remember
Of a fair haired girl, a dream, a vision
Of a world unclean, full of derision
I take her hand my girl of chalk
For we’ll not stay where the ghosts don’t walk

© Copyright 2012 MICHAEL HUGHES - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
1 posted 2012-05-02 05:53 AM


Tragic aftermath of reality is this poems worth, Michael. You have managed to capture the essence of the futility of many, if not all, inner cities.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
2 posted 2012-05-02 09:09 AM


Such sad reality in this poem, Michael. So well said.
                                  Ida

dreamgal
Member
since 2011-03-17
Posts 442

3 posted 2012-05-02 09:16 AM


Great job on this. I enjoyed reading it.
Startime1955
Senior Member
since 2012-04-22
Posts 1072
Alberta, Canada
4 posted 2012-05-02 09:40 AM


Painful reality that breaks the heart for this girl whose life was wasted in a world that is not kind enough to care...this poem pulled at the heart stings...perfectly written
Eloise
Senior Member
since 1999-11-27
Posts 1096
Wyoming
5 posted 2012-05-02 06:38 PM


Wow!  Very captivating.  Unfortunately, this happens much too often.  Good job.
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