Dear Diary

A poem about divorce form the child's perspective.

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"They think I can't hear.

But don't they know?

The walls are paper thin;

their voices are remarkably clear."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"There are words I'm not supposed to say,

screaming and crashing too.

Goodnight, I think I'll sleep now,

maybe tomorrow will be a better day."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"Today Mummy was crying,

when I asked her of last night.

Listen! The screaming is back,

with sounds of our best china sent flying."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"I can't understand why

they are so upset.

Do you think it's me?

Oh dear, I think I'm gonna cry."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"Maybe it's cause I didn't finish my peas,

or cause I wanted a new pet,

or cause I ate too many candies,

and forgot my 'thank you's and 'please'."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"They came to talk to me.

They're getting a 'divorce'.

I don't know what that is,

but it sounds pretty scary."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"It means they don't love each other anymore;

I checked the big book of words.

Papa is moving out today,

Mummy won't see him till the door."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"Mummy's sad, but she didn't ask papa to stay;

the house seems so empty now,

and none of my toys are any fun,

now that Papa isn't here to play."

"Dear diary,"

She writes,

"They say they'll always love me,

but it would be okay, it would be okay,

if they loved me a little less,

and loved each other instead."

Author's Note

The child whose perspective I'm writing from is pretty young, maybe around eight or so. I have tried to keep the language simple and to infuse the innocence of the child in the piece. I hope it shines through!

Also, the rhyme scheme completely breaks down in the last stanza. Sorry about that! But I didn't have the heart to change it cause I like that part best.

Reviews

[anant mody]

nicceee oneee
its feeels in the hearttt

yr words r simple but soulfull

keep up good work miss

[Revolutionary]

I grew up at friday night at the fights. I used to laugh while i watched them bust liquor bottles and pull butcher knives. he pushed her against the wall heater once and it burned the waffle shape in her back. the cops would come at least once a month and they would look so sorry for me as They asked if I was ok.I pretended it wasnt happening.laughed about it all the time. I know it was a defense mechanism. now. so your poem struck a nerve. thank you

[Anuradha Verma]

Oh wow. This is the first time someone has been able to relate to my work. I'm speechless actually. In my opinion, this is the greatest compliment and satisfaction any writer can glean from their work. Thank you.
And maybe it can qualify as borderline creepy for a stranger to be saying this but for whatever it might be worth, when I read your writing, I think you turned out pretty great. :)

[Revolutionary]

thank you and your welcome

[Magnus]

I love the creativity and the emotion in this piece...I could almost picture the person writing though I had the age all wrong until I read the note to the reviewer :D thumbs up!

[Anuradha Verma]

Thank you! ^_^

[Magnus]

You're welcome

[luvs2write]

I definitely think you should keep it the same. In my opinion, emotion is more important in poetry than the rhyme scheme. I love the simpleness of this poem, you did an amazing job writing from a different perspective. Keep writing!!

[Anuradha Verma]

Thank you! Me too, that is why I didn't change it. :)

[Bee C.]

Goodness, wow! This is incredibly powerful, and so tragic. I love how you incorporated the repetition, and it paces very well too. Don't change a word of this, it's beautiful just the way it is. Excellent work!

[Anuradha Verma]

I'm glad that you could find the time to read my work! Thank you for your kind review! :)

[rashu]

no don't change it ..
rhyme does not matter if the emotional are really powerful..
the words u used were not so tough but still had a deep meaning in them..
i really liked the ending part of the poem..
this is really a painful dairy of a child who is unable to understand divorce but still has to go through it because of her parents at such a tender age where she wants their love not fights..
this is really hear touching..
keep it up :)

[Anuradha Verma]

Thank you! :) I'm glad to hear that the emotions are coming through.