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

[Chris Parker]

This poem is so grusome yet it says so little! I can almost see a father walking in looking tired and angry then a boy laughing on the inside as his anger wells up and explodes silently on the outside! It was great!

[Clyde Grauke]

This is a nice poem that paints not only a good picture of the past but also of the present and reflects the combination of resilience and pain and lost innocence brought on by a harsh environment.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Very interesting piece... shows just how kids do learn from watching adults so you must be careful how you act in front of them... great life lesson.

[lawrence bear]

good write, and all along I saw myself in that boy. To dare speak of such words. Let alone laugh, well I laughed as I read those words. very brave indeed, and well... We learned from the best, and get the whipping we sometimes deserve. lol, oh to see that look again, has me gleaming.
I liked this one.

[James K. Blaylock]

I truly enjoyed this piece, man! I wish I could've spoken to my hateful father this way. Great write.

jkb

[Ellen Hammond]

Wow! A brave young lad! If I had ever openly said something like that to my mother, I would have had to pick my head up from the far side of the room....my mom was the tough parent. But, in that little boy, I see the same type of defiance I had as a child....only I was sneakier about getting even. lol This is an enjoyable poem, I like your style and the way you design the fifth verse very much like the second to drive home the point that children learn more by what the see than by what they are told. Very nicely written.

[DavidRyan]

This awesome, man. Just the image of the kid saying, "I crushed your dreams, and now I'm eating them." Amazing, man.