The First Memory I Ever Had.

I do not speak of this to make you feel bad for me, my words are ment to make you think of the little ones that need set free.

My first memory was at a young age,

it was the tender age of two.

My step father was in a drunken rage,

my mother’s body he then threw.

 

Her body slid across the trailer floor,

her head hit the cast iron stand

of the Singer sewing machine by the door,

glasses flew as her head did land.

 

Everything seemed to happen so fast,

the home filled with strangers to me,

neighbors pulled me from my mothers grasp,

alone, like a ghost they don't see.

 

I never did see my mother awake,

I couldn't beleive she had died!

This was all too much for my heart to take.

In a strange bed that night I cried.

 

Two days had come and went, my mind a blur.

Yet, no one came to comfort me.

Through the curtains an image, my eyes unsure...

...my mother, but, how could this be!?

 

 

           I learned he'd knocked my mother out that day,

 they thought I would not understand.

By time I learned, too much time slipped away,

 

the damage would be deep and grand.

 

No sting of death within me will you find,

as if that part died that day.

Never underestimate the child’s mind,

never forget to stop and say,

 

"do you understand what happen today?"

Silence can’t make it go away!

I could see everything they saw that day,

up until they took her away.

 

By the time my mom held me oh so tight,

I’d digested that she was gone.

I have lived inside my mind sence that night,

I am stronger now, but it was wrong!

 

~Melody

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Fréyjä Helv..]

A real tragedy it is, and at such a young age could cause a traumatic impulse to a child who's mind may not be strong enough to accept an incident as intense as this... I get what you're trying to convey. Though a young child's memories could be blurred at some moments, they still get flashes of visions... Children understand no matter how young, they can sense sadness, fear and anger. It's an instinct I guess.

[VelvetRosetta]

Touching piece, sad to say the least but its true, silence does not fix anything.

[Jetta Zippora]

Wow. Heartfelt and heartbreaking. Beautiful regardless. Keep on writing, friend.

['poetry by bonnie']

Brought tears to my eyes, very good. Is this a true story? You don't have to answer that. It is written with such emotion, thats why I ask. My poems are through emotion, I probably could'nt write if it wasn't through emotions. I loved your poem very, very good in content and theme. I'm adding it to my library.....

[Kimberly "Melody" Carney]

Yes, it is true.

[Clouded in Hopeful Illu..]

Hello! Thank you for the friend request.

This poem is sad, but strong in theme and style. I enjoyed reading it several times and have some suggestions. Remember that they are just suggestions and you can take or leave them as you like.

I am sorry that this is a non-fiction piece for you, but am glad that you have made it through and are stronger today because of it.


"Her body slid across the trailer floor,
her head hit the cast iron stand
of the Singer sewing machine by the door,
glasses flew as her head did land." ---- The beginning of the third lines really halts the rythem of the poem. I understand it is there for the rhyme, but for me it breaks the flow of the poem itself.

"Everything seemed to happen so fast,
the home filled with strangers to me,
neighbors pulled me from my mothers grasp,
alone, like a gost they dont see." --- A few things with this stanza. If the room filled with strangers, than how do you recognize the neighbors? Maybe make it more clear that among the strangers, the neighbors come in as well. Another thing that had me confused is where you as the speaker are in this poem. Through the first few stanzas, I thought you were seeing this from the same room (like across from where it was happening) but all of a sudden you are in your mother's grasp. WIth the way this is worded, it makes it sound as if your mother went through all of this while she was holding you. Also, ghost is spelled wrong.

"I learned he'd knocked my mother out that day,
they thought I would not understand.
By time I learned, too much time slipped away,
the damage would be deep and grand." ---- Did you learn that he knocked the mother out the day she came and got you, or does the first line just mean that you learned that he knocked her out the day in which the abuse took place? The third line is missing a "the" between by and time.

The ending is okay to me, but it seems rushed and not as strong as the rest of the poem. The whole poem is incredibly intense (and for good reason) but then towards the end, you seem to just want to have it finished. I think you could adjust it slightly, possibly even make it a bit longer, to show why this is wrong. I understand why this is wrong, but since you bring up an interesting psychological theme that could expanded on slightly.

+YourMidnightSecret+

[Harley (arbiter)]

this was a great write. you very talented at putting emotions on paper. my first memory isnt a happy one either. great poem

[Lina Grey]

My first memory is of my parents arguing very loudly about why I was playing with broken glass. I've always had a serious problem with adults refusing to explain such things to children, as if in some way they are sparing the child or saving the child some heartache. What they don't realize is that not having such things explained clearly can lead to missunderstandings and worse heartaches. Your poem expresses that clearly. Well done. Thank you.

[Tomi]

do you understand what happen today?
Silence can’t make it go away
I could see everything they saw that day
Up until that took her away
The state of mind of a person determines a lot in his/her life not to talk of a little child! silence is sometimes abused! Excellent write! thank you for sharing :)

[Leigh]

I admire you for writing this, it is sad and amazing how children have to accept, its their way of being able to get through - Powerful and Sad

[Dove]

Wow this poem is truly a tragedy. I hate that this had to happen at all but at such a young age it must have been extra hard. I wish people would understand that even at a young age kids can still understand. This is a great poem.