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Tim
Senior Member

since 1999-06-08

Posts 1794

0 posted 2002-05-13 11:57 PM

He was a small, odd looking man, who went into the park,
Very nearly every day, and often stayed 'til dark,
He'd sit upon a wooden bench and watch the children play,
'Til twilight spread across the park; whisked boys and girls away.
One afternoon in early June, with weather cool and dry,
Children ran throughout the park, beneath blue springtime sky,
When through the park a mother's scream, echoed through the trees,
I cannot find my little boy, Help Me, Help Me, Please!
Someone saw a boy right there, he was playing by a man,
A rather small, odd looking sort, and so the search began,
Police and parents combed the park, searching high and low,
No signs of little Jimmy Brown, or clues where he did go.
Then someone saw a small odd man, and with him was a boy,
Walking back into the park, at first a mother's joy,
Then came a rising anger, what had the odd man done,
Had he defiled a little boy, attacked a mother's son?
A blow was struck in anger, then a beating sad to say,
Before police could calm the crowd and take odd man away,
The mother held her young son close, and said, I love you dear,
That evil man is locked away, no longer need you fear.
What evil man? the young boy asked, as he began to cry,
Why did they hit my new friend John, can you tell me why?
I got lost and really scared, I didn't know what to do,
Then John found me and took my hand, and brought me back to you.
He told me once he had a boy, who looked a lot like me,
His son got sick and went away, his boy was only three.
He told me not be afraid, I was not lost but found,
He dried my tears and brought me here, to you all safe and sound.
The next day Jimmy went to the park, to find his new friend there,
He called John's name, looked all around, the wooden bench was bare.

[This message has been edited by Tim (05-14-2002 12:00 AM).]

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius

since 2001-10-23

Posts 10549
By the Seaside

1 posted 2002-05-14 02:14 AM

It is a sad case scenario when a gesture of good will is turned into something evil.
And we live in fear and the loss of believing in good intentions that ultimately harms the way of the human spirit. It is a sad sign of the times indeed~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

2 posted 2002-05-14 05:36 AM

Interesting..James

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

3 posted 2002-05-14 06:13 AM

everything is suspect today...I can remember as a child never wanting to go to the downtown area of a city because the news told nothing but the bad that happens. I had to go once to the Main Library and looked over my shoulder, holding onto my bags as if I was frightened to death...ruined the whole day.

Nicely written
M

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

4 posted 2002-05-14 06:33 AM

A good write, albeit tragic and true..brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for the kickstart, Tim...

2dalimit
Member Elite

since 2000-02-08

Posts 2228
Mississippi coast

5 posted 2002-05-14 09:03 AM

The good thing is that this is a heartfelt story that reads very well. The sad thing is that we have indeed lost "trust" in these times we live.

Thanks,
Melton

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

6 posted 2002-05-14 10:37 PM

A shock of reality here Tim, and the sad part is this, that if you do see a child that has wandered off, it puts peril on the person who takes that upon themselves to find the parents now, for this very reason that they will be suspect. This is a daily terror in my daughter-in-law's mind and it is so sad this society has come to this. Thank you for this piece it is an importnat one indeed.

Let's spend less time worrying about when our life is going to end, and more on when it's going to start!

Suetang
Member Ascendant

since 2001-03-07

Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia

7 posted 2002-05-14 10:46 PM

Hello Tim

Your words were so very moving and held me from start to finish. Trust sometimes seems barely none existant in our society. We don't give some people the benefit of the doubt or wait until we have all the facts before accusing an innocent person. You write extremely well and I'll look forward to reading more from you.

Take care....Sue

Suetang

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