I have been tormented with dreams as I sleep and thoughts and visions while awake of children suffering in the most horrible ways. And I want to know why. No doubt the loss of my great niece and nephew who were murdered when they were 5 and 7 years of age


Suffering Children = My Torment

The hot water makes me think,
a child could be tortured with it
The cold water makes me think
a child could be plunged into it
Taking a shower isn't pleasant
when your mind brings about such thoughts.
Flames on the stove, a sizzling skillet there
makes me think of children being burned to death.
The freezer makes me think,
of children being locked inside to freeze to death.
What about the knife, lying in the drawer.
Evil people have used knives
on children throughout history.
Such tormenting thoughts make fixing a meal difficult.
Crossing a bridge over a wide and deep river
I think of a child drowning and the terror it must endure.
This is my torment. In dreams I see evil everywhere hurting children
And me, helpless to save them.
I try running to them but move as through molasses.
I scream but no sound escapes.
I awake in terror, looking for the child who needs me,
The child I could not save, the child who was tortured
because I could not move fast enough.
Evil has triumphed.
Why?
This is my maddness.
God protect the children,
Please protect the children.
Why God, won't you protect the children?





Poetry by Phyllis J. Rhodes
Read 525 times
Written on 2007-04-24 at 19:00

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
Your torment and that of your family is so powerfully given voice in this wonderful poem i commend you on your bravery in writing it well done and i am sure it will help in some way even if you may never forget that terrible day rgds mike
2007-04-25


Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Nightmares like these do so profoundly affect us - I to have had fears of all the things that could befall my children - why do these terrible things happen? Please let us just love and cherish all the children everywhere. This is such a deep, deep and profound poem, no doubt the tragic loss of your great niece and nephew have left a scar - my heart really goes out to you - nothing can assuage the grief of loss such as that - just to let you know, that there are a million good people out there, for the evil that tries to ruin lives.

Elle xxx
2007-04-25


Kathy Lockhart
Our lives were forever changed on that horrible nightmare of a day that will never ever go away. It is marked and it has stained all that were affected by the events on the darkest day of our lives. It's no wonder you have those fears, those nightmares even in your waking hours. The torment continues for some in quiet suttle ways for others in bold and vivid ways. We now realize that bad things really do happen to good people. It has happened all over the world and we were sheltered and we felt safe. Now, it has happened to us. There is no guarantee of a life without tragedy. Life happens and often times it happens with violence and evilness. We know; we lived it and continue to feel the pain from it. It helps in a wee small way to write these feelings out. You have and I hope some peace will come to you my loving, compassionate, sweet sister. I love you and we will get through these tough times as best we can together.
2007-04-24


Will
Nightmares come when darkness hits close to home.
I'm so sorry for that which has caused your nightmares.
There is good in the world, love for the children also.
I know this doesn't really help, but it is true.

Powerfully sad write!!!!
2007-04-24