Learning To Hurt

Father teaching son to be hurtful

 

Learning to Hurt

 

I was eating oatmeal,

when my dad came into

the room.

 

gloom worn into

his tired face.

eyes

cold and burning.

churning mind

bulging.

 

“You killed my dreams,” he snarled.

“You and your brothers and sisters

slaughtered them all. I work and work

and I stay broke. I run and run

and I’m still behind. It’s your fault.

you should know that much.”

 

I was eight years old.

bold and happy as a

young bird on his first flight.

 

doom crawled onto

my smiling lips.

eyes

showing that same

frigid flame.

I laughed.

 

I took a heaping bite of my oatmeal,

snickered and said,

“I killed your dreams daddy,

and now I’m eating them.”

 

the look that seized his stare

was worth a thousand harsh

whippings. I only took one.

and through the entire ordeal,

that twisted smile never betrayed

my face.

 

it still hasn’t. 

 

 

penned 4/2009

(too much to drink/nostalgic)

Author's Note

Smile if you're NOT on fire! :)

Reviews

[Cherry Berry]

It is hard to break away from what we are taught. Hence the saying that the apple does not fall far from the tree.... However, I have also learned that if you can see a problem, you can then fix a problem, at least when it comes to ourselves.
We do not have to be what we are taught, though sometimes it is better to be exactly that.
Well penned.
xox
Cherri

[Emily B]

I really love this old stuff . . . it cuts sharp

[Kate Franta]

I enjoy the bare-bones aspect of this powerful piece. It's refreshing and poignant. Nice work, sir.

[SoulofManyFaces]

These are very strong words, harsh, sad, and even though
there might have been that smile that didn't leave the
lips, the hurt, the pain is still there, inside, growing.

[Dane Osborne]

This was cool man. It had a nice flow.100

[Greg Skura]

Wow parents sure can be harsh. i hope that you were able to forgive your father and realize that people can say things that they do not truly mean when their own life appears to be futile. i tried to respond to this post a number of days ago but my computer crashed. i see that you have been busy and i have alot of reading to do. lol

[Gheeneil]

This could be a horrible experience for a child because this could breed hatred which would eat him up as he grew up. Thus, he could hurt someone else in turn. It's just like a chain. This so powerful and realistic.

[Kristina Moulaison]

This hits hard. I loved the line, "you should know that much." You are very good at putting words to things not spoken, telling a story. Really good!

[Ladysue]

wow, this was some piece of writing. So poignant and so profound....these are great lines....

I only took one.
and through the entire ordeal,
that twisted smile never betrayed
my face

Yes, "Simile if you're NOT on fire...like Eagle said..is the greatest advice known to man...

Excellent write!!!!

[Eagle Cruagh]

Survive !

Good parents will be proud of you.
Survival is how you win over bad parents.

This was an intersting poem and the advice, "Smile
if you`re not on fire !" is the greatest advice known
to man. It costs nothing to give, it costs nothing to
practice and everybody will love you for it.

Great writing !

Thank you,

-------Eagle Cruagh