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Open Poetry #7
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Little Boy Black And Blue (repost for Child Abuse)
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Little Boy Black And Blue (repost for Child Abuse) |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California 
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LITTLE BOY BLACK AND BLUE Oh, Little Boy Black and Blue, Who was it that did this to you? Who raised a hand at innocence, Just to proclaim their eminence At a child's expense? Was this your loving mother's psalm, This stormy song beneath your calm? The one who nourished you from birth. Were you more trouble then you were worth? Oh, was it her who did this to you, Little Boy Black and Blue? Was it your father, that loving soul? Did the alcohol cause him to lose control? Was his patience tried and taunted By the boy he never wanted? Oh, was it him that did this to you, Little Boy Black and Blue? Oh, Little Boy Black and Blue, The autopsy confirms it is true. You were sodomized and strangled. You were beaten, broken, mangled. How you must've screamed in agony As bloodstained hands brought you more misery. Oh, was it someone you never even knew, Little Boy Black and Blue? For baby "Joshua" - 1993 Michael Anderson This poem is about a baby who was beaten to death here in my home town in 1993. Originally both parents were arrested but only the father was charged. Upon release, the mother never even acknowledged the child. She didn't go see him She didn't plan for or even care if the child had a funeral. She acted for the most part, angry at the child because he was the fault her boyfriend was in jail. The father was eventually released and no convictions for this crime have ever taken place. The case is now closed. Joshua's funeral was paid for by the state but he was not even given a headstone. Nor was the site of his grave to be publically known. For all intents and puroses, Joshua never existed. [This message has been edited by Michael (edited 04-20-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Michael Anderson - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Oh, Michael~ I cry at even trying to imagine what countless children go through at the hands of abusers. Tenderly done. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Oh Michael this is heart wrenching. I cry for Joshua and other children that this has happend to. It angers me that people like Joshua's so called parents exist! What comes from the heart goes to the heart. Samuel Coleridge |
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Mistikman Senior Member
since 2000-01-10
Posts 682San Jose, CA, USA |
Sigh... This poem turns my stomach michael, something like this should never happen... Well done.... |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
I saw this poem on your webpage a ways back and it gave me chills, it still does... and your explaination of it does as well... tradgic and painful...the reality of it. But one thing just crossed my mind... it may seem like Joshua never exsisted... but thats not quite true...his story touched your heart...and inspired you to write this poem for him...and now it touches others and speaks for him... your compassionate poem is a dedication to his life...and gives it a purpose... a lesson to be learned, eyes to be opened, maybe it will save another child... maybe, just maybe... we can hope and pray. take care, jm |
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Marina Member Elite
since 2000-02-10
Posts 2245Pickering, Ontario |
Michael, this one absolutely broke my heart to read. Only you could have brought this tragedy to paper and do it so such feeling and emotion. Your talents are truly amazing my friend. Agian I thank you for reposting ,yet another of your gems for our cause. Marina |
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pmc Junior Member
since 2000-03-09
Posts 48Germany |
An excellent poem that tells a very sad heartbreaking tale. well done Patrick. |
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Marina Member Elite
since 2000-02-10
Posts 2245Pickering, Ontario |
thanks agian...back up you go Marina |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
Someone once said "they may forget what you said but will never forget how you made them feel". Don't think I will forget this poem anytime soon. Well done "M" A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Marge, the numbers really are countless, too. Staggering if you will.  Dark Angel, It's easy to get angry but we must remember anger is where abuse starts most of the time. Most abusers come from abusive backgrounds and simply know no better than their actions. I am not condoning in the least, but I think understanding first why abusers abuse will serve much better in breaking the cycle than anger. Mistik, Indeed. Janet, you make a very valid point. I do hope and pray. Marina, this case was very personal to me. You are very welcome for the repost, I only hope it helps to bring exposure some how to the awful scourge of abuse in this nation today. pmc, Thank you. Danny, That is quite a compliment. My sincerest thanks. Thank you all for the kind replies. Michael |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
This is a terrible situation... it brought me to tears. To think that no one really cared that a child lived and died... "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Very nice writing Michael to reveal this very tragic life and death story. James |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Michael this must have been hard to write. What a terrible tragedy. And, how beautiful you wrote it. Thanks for caring about the little broken boy -- too bad, this didn't go in your home town newspaper - or did it? My good friend years ago was an interim home for abused children -- sometimes she would have them for a few days, sometimes around a month, and many times the little black and blue babies went back to their abusers -- Some were fortunately adopted, others to live from foster home to foster home throughout their precious childhoods. But, one boy seemed to have lost in the paperwork and she had him from 5 months old until he was three -- then they came in and took him away from her to place him in a "real foster home" She tried to adopt him but the father wouldn't sign the papers -- it broke her heart. She quit taking the kids in. Her heart was breaking -- and that last child she had for so very long -- to me that is a tragedy, too. Both her and the child that loved her like a mom. netswan |
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