More Than a Gift Taken

My most personal piece to date.

there once lived a boy,

who held a gift tightly

at least until

someone he loved, trusted,

and even adored

snatched it from his grip

before he, himself could open it...

he could do nothing

but sit idly by while he...

his gift--- was abused

damaged at the consent

of a person---

who quickly became a monster

a monster he onced loved,

a monster he now hates...

his gift was being destroyed

before his very eyes,

and there was nothing he could do

he wanted to scream---

scream until the earth shook

and the heavens fell

until it collided with the lowest point of hell,

but he couldn't

his love for that thief---

that monster, kept his lips sealed

his unspoken loyalties

suppressed his cry for help

in the pit of his stomach...

his love that came so natural

convinced him it would stop

and when it didn't,

that same love convinced him

that was how he was to be treated---

he honestly thought,

that was it's way of saying...

i love you

but every time it

ripped or kicked a dent

in the gift that was his

and just walked away,

without a second thought

it proved him wrong

and each time it returned

his heart began to race

the surface of his skin burned,

all the while...

the fight in him grew smaller

suddenly, the desire to fight was gone,

he somehow accepted his role

his mind no longer required an explanation

it just retreated to a place

where that monster,

that thief couldn't rape or ravage it

but--- also to a place

where it missed the world around it...

a place where it never learned

to savour a sunny day

because it only sought after darkness---

a place where even now,

it roams endlessly

still searching for echos

of a voice unheard---

a place where a boy inside a man

sits alone and cries,

for his natural gift

was his innocence

and without it, he can't bare to imagine

the future, fears his present day,

and hates his past---

now, if one were to stop

and look hard enough into the darkness,

just beside the crying child

you can see the man in me

who doesn't remember...

being a boy

Author's Note

This was written during my writing frenzy when I was 18, I thank you for reading. I have survived many things in my life, this being the story of one of those events.

Reviews

[icelandicblue]

Oh god this was just amazing. I teared up reading this. It is so powerful the helplessness was palatable. I can't believe you wrote this at 18- I was too busy scribbling I heart Joe. These lines pierced my heart:

a place where a boy inside a man
sits alone and cries,
for his natural gift
was his innocence
and without it, he can't bare to imagine
the future, fears his present day,
and hates his past---
now, if one were to stop
and look hard enough into the darkness,
just beside the crying child
you can see the man in me
who doesn't remember...
being a boy

Damn- that is excruciatingly moving.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for those sincere words... this is the most I've ever faced this piece. I am very happy to know it was worth the effort.

[SyberRose]

You write with such a gentle pen and no malice ...not a mean bone in your body...thats how I see you.
Innocence is such a beautiful thing in a child and I can't think of anything worse to happen to a child when stripped of that innocence...thank you for sharing Travis...Rose

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Rose you are far too kind. Your words always leave me smiling.

[QuietlyCrash]

Oh my word. This is amazing. All the emotion just hits you right in the face. You can't help but feel the waves of the words pull you down. With this piece I felt the worthlessness and the despair. The loss of innocence is such a hard thing to cope with. Realizing the world doesn't scoop down to pick you up when you get lost but pushes you further in the mud, is an awful epiphany. I'm so glad that you put this out here for us to enjoy, because this is absolutely gold.
-Riley

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for such a positive review. I was actually going to keep this private, but I think it's time to grow, even if only a lil. I'm glad to know the words affected you in such a grand way.

[Danielle]

The emotion in this piece is very evident. Such a beautiful and heartbreaking poem.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you... your kind review is appreciated.

[Rogue]

-sigh-
This one made me cry. "I am nothing. I am no-one. I deserve this."
A horrible cycle to break from and a mindset that forever sits silently coiled in the back of the brain until it can strike. And strike it does...

This is a tragic and beautifully worded piece, Travis. The emotion in it is palpable.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Rogue your words are always endearing and I appreciate you for that. I don't read this piece, ever. I'm elated to know it is well recieved.

[Rogue]

I understand. I have one of my own I will not read or respond to reviews on. It is just too hard to see the words.
And thank you. Always you are welcome.

[Stella Armour]

we have to learn by our own mistakes and sadly this was a big learning curve for you.. if you learned from it then there is no harm done and maybe you are a better person now we are only innocent for a short while..then we become able to deal with life..

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for your review, Stella. Forgive me for not responding more indepth, but this is a sensitive subject for me and i don't want to cause any offence with my response.

[Stella Armour]

understood :o)...........

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for understanding.

[Stella Armour]

always my friend..:o)