N*****s

The baby crawled into

the plastic storage box

The lid closed.

It felt cozy there 

as he pressed

against the clear sides.

His mother did not hear

nor see him give a laugh

and a wave. She did not see him 

fidgeting 

and 

getting restless.

The baby marvelled at 

how the sides were so smooth

Even as he wondered in his

baby brain why his lungs 

did not fill. But no matter.

Every experience is new and unusual.

Why should this one 

be less different?

The baby shook 

and trembled 

and gasped. But without fear or anguish.

His sight began to dim 

and his mind

began to numb.

He thought about sleep

and n*****s gone

dry

The baby was me

Reviews

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

what a haunting effigy in darkness~ the innocence gone to air without air~ social nuances threaded through the first person response~ and gad that last stanza is a literary bullet hitting its mark in the mind of the reader~ shatterways~ your ability to create both a haunting scene and flesh it with reactive emotional nuances is damn strong~ chilling human uncoiling tale~

[Kenneth The Poet]

Scary dark, man. The image and title alone drew me here. I am glad I found it.

[Branch Isole]

Even with the anticipated outcome of this piece, the ending was superbly unexpected.

[James W Wilson Jr]

This was a very good poem! Very visual!

[Lydia Blackwell]

oh. this is frightfully real and articulated well. how do these tragedies happen?
Being a mother, this is overwhelming to me.
No- no, it shouldn't have been you. It should be no one.
well done, sir.

[Audrey Howitt]

You know it is going to be a difficult read from the title--even the title grabs and holds you---and the poem never lets go-it is beautifully written and such a powerful piece. I loved it

[Raindrop]

I'm left in an awe. The way it was written, the flow of it..and the feeling! A very chilling write. Full of darkness and torture. It sure pinches the heart a little after reading it.

[Lilly Negoi]

this hurts. so damn deep that i can't find a proper way to comment on the poem itself...

[ScorpioSun]

wow the poem itself is suffocating in its inevitability, I love it

[J. Snipes]

Sad, desperate. Brings to mind "Little Boy Blue" by Eugene Field-1830/1895 last published 1911