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Open Poetry #4
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Innocence
| Open Poetry #4 |
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Innocence |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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Innocence Multi-colored bruises cover her skin, dark against the stark whiteness of the walls, the sheets, and me. Motionless and small, she becomes an extension of the many machines keeping her alive. Seizures rack tiny limbs. Spasms are controlled by fluids bled into minuscule veins through which life’s liquid flows. Innocent, she fights for her life while her mother fights the court, pleading innocence. Billows fill her lungs, breathing life into death while holding the inevitable off for only fractions longer. The rhythm steady; the reverberation like poetry and above it all I hear another sound. Sobs, now clearly heard, and I glance around the room to find the source; before realizing, they are coming from me. (Once more, I speak for those incapable of speaking for themselves...the innocent children) "I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me , this has always been enough." ~Nicholas Sparks from The Notebook [This message has been edited by hoot_owl_rn (edited 12-14-1999).] |
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| © Copyright 1999 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Ruth, You have seen so much more than most of us. The reality is hard to consume, but your poetry speaks so well of it, I feel as though I saw for myself. How dreadful Liz |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
Beautiful Ruth. This speaks to our hearts. Knowledge hopefully will breed an end to this tragedy. |
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Saxoness
since 1999-07-18
Posts 1102Texas |
My heart goes out to those children, and my hands come together for you! "Glory remains unaware of my neglected dwelling where alone I sing my tearful song which has charms only for me." -Charles Brugnot |
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
Ruth your passion for protecting and loving the children is so boundless. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and here's hoping this piece is published far and wide. What a difference you are able to make with your words. Big hugs to you, hoot... It's not the love you fear, but the fall from the height~Edwin McCain |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
I must be so hard to see this kind of suffering. Nobility has many faces. One of them is yours. In the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. (ee cummings) |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I don't envy you your job, Ruth.... What happens to some of these children between the hours they spend with me and when they arrive on your threshold can be pretty ominous at times..... |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Ruth you have a way of telling the tragedy of what's happened to these children. It must be hard to be confronted with this everyday. May our prayers all join together for those little ones who lives are in danger! <*\\\>< Jesus is the reason for the season |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Ruth - I admire your strength and the depth of your poetry. Well done. This is a fantastic poem.  K |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
There will always be those that cannot speak for themselves and those to speak for them. Now and forever, my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© ------------------------------------------------------- "Either kill me or take me as I am, because I'll be damned if I ever change..." Count Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade (Marquis de Sade) |
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Iloveit Senior Member
since 1999-09-02
Posts 1121NM |
ruth this is so sad and so beautiful, you are the link in the chain of prayers for the ones who can't speak for themselves big hugs remember this...nobody has an unbreakable heart |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Hoot - I pray that something happens that would keep these innocent children from getting to your loving care. Dear God ... how many more before we say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ? Your sobs are ecohed across the land. God bless you. God bless the child. God ... oh, God ... have mercy. ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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First__Knight Senior Member
since 1999-11-08
Posts 678 |
I pray that when children such as these get to the hospital that you will always be there to great them Ruth. If everyone had a heart such as yours....The pain would be small, the wound never to deep and the love always to be shared. Bless you always Share what you are for you are what you share |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Very sad, Ruth. I don't know how you deal with this. It is heartbreaking just to think of it. Your writing makes it real to me. Well done. Denise |
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Rod Member
since 1999-12-08
Posts 149Auckland New Zealand |
I salute you - not only for what you do, but for having the strength and courage to do it. How the world needs you - and people like you. God has indeed blessed you - and, by your presence, He has blessed others. |
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997northern mountains, Idaho |
Ah, yes, I have been there - while spending days and weeks there with my child - I have seen the others - and yes, bless you. |
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Tara Simms Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244Honea Path, SC USA |
Oh, Ruth, this brought tears to my eyes. Excellent writing, so much emotion in this. It matters not how strait the gate; How charged with punishments the scroll; I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. --W.E. Henley |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Ruth, I am going to read into this a bit and say that this poem refers either to "crack babies," born to mothers who abuse drugs, or simply abused babies in general. I cannot begin to express the sorrow I felt when reading this, having worked in close proximity myself with many drug babies, both the preemies and those later in childhood. I also have very strong opinions about what should be done to the parents of these children -- the first type (druggies) should be sterilized; the second (abusive) should simply be shot. You can beat up a child, you don't deserve the air you breathe. 'Nuff said. This was a tearjerker, Ruth. --Kess You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. |
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RobertB Senior Member
since 1999-09-26
Posts 1104Champaign, IL |
wow Ruth....I saw this when our oldest had jaundice. Some poor little ones had been in the hospital for almost a year. We felt very lucky it was "just" jaundice. I saw several nurses cry when a patient finally went home. They were so loving.....marvelous. Robert if you can dream; you can fly...if you are flying; you are dreaming. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Kess...this was written about an abused child named Amanda, it is based on a true story. She was two and very tiny for two, the body of her brother, one, was found a few days later in a suitcase in an abandoned lot. This is the second of two poems I have written about her. She ended up dying. The mother was convicted of two counts of murder. Thanks everyone for reading and for commenting on this one. |
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