Newborn

A crying baby

The stale shriek of shrill grief,

an infant forced upon the world,

the whips that lash his back, pulling

the weight he’ll carry since birth.

 

His screeched voice cracks

a howl ungraciously performing

the horror in our tender humanity,

a transparent pity.

 

Consciousness arrived without request.

Its pitch subjects our sense

to an ache just begun

that death has yet to numb.

 

Sleep forgoes the wall of wails

in his father’s arms,

where comfort is provisional,

though gone once thought evolves.

 

I no longer weep like he.

My pain broods, and boils

unkempt tears in cloudy eyes,

a distant glare of mist and melancholy.

Reviews

[Red Brick Keshner]

As if to say, 'The world and I are so vastly different from each other.'
Can we co-exist without mutually losing our true selves, with respect
and a common bond of complementary esteem?

There is a distinct burden that poets carry throughout their days;
fraught with pain and angst yet sacred and oracular even.

[~crazy Beautiful~]

Interesting and creativ epiece
this line
"Consciousness arrived without request."
amazing
nice work
thank you for entering my contest

[The Archangel Gabriel]

"I no longer weep like he." I think that should be "I no longer weep like him."

Interesting and provacative. What kind of agony must it be to be ejected from warmth and security to face this cruel and oppressive world? The mind boggles!

"Consciousness arrived without request." Well said. I think that I am going to go to bed and toy with unconsciousness. Great job!

-Gabe

[J.P.O.et]

I really like this and I may be reaching for critique but
"the whips that lash his back, pulling' what weight
is he a crack baby, underprivilidged, premature?
'to an ache just begun...that death has yet to numb'
LOve this line, powerfull I'm thinking crack baby with the ache already ingrained
then you bring your tears for him at the end
Excellent work, Travis
J.P.O.et

[No One Important]

I agree, it is a fine piece.

[strange_gurl]

WOW Travis ,that is a fine piece