There are No Children Here

to grow up quick, wanting to die young.

There are no children here.

There is no laughter, no

chance encounter on a swing set

with a youth who they've

just met, but will probably

never see again in their life.

A child would never care,

if that child were here, 

a child would think no more

deeply that there is another

on this earth who they've connected 

with than thinking deeply

of their favorite toy.

Here, a child's heart will tug

for someone

who they will never see again

they will ache for that person 

laughter

yearn for that person

touch.

Here, children die young,

yet grow up fast,

so there are no children here.

Author's Note

https://voca.ro/1cLfWEoUAb7o

like a high-five to the first person that can tell me where the title/theme came from, literally I'll wait.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

very interesting piece. like all your works, the fast-paced rhythm and stream of consciousness style creates an aesthetically pleasing poem. i think this poem is about our inner child. the one that wants to find joy in every little thing and makes friends with everyone. the child that is now being neglected, forgotten about, and buried under the so-called 'important things' that the modern world demands of us. the child that is crying because it cannot just go outside and feel free. it is a truly heart-breaking poem, but one that could teach us to re-connect witht that aspect of ourselves we often disregard.

[maya_online]

As always, your reviews make me view my own work in another way, you put your words together so elegantly sometimes I forget it's my poem ! Thank you for your words (this is my new account as I'm so scatterbrained I forgot the password for my other one, so any updates will be on here)

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

do you have ADHD? i ask because most of my good friends do.

[maya_online]

I'm not sure, I just can never remember things, not like a genuine illness, I forget my birthday sometimes though, thanks for asking, you were one of the people I didn't want to lose while losing my account

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

i hate to be that guy, but as a concerned reader, i will just like to point out that being forgetful is often related to something. if you treat it now, you will be thankful when you are in your 60s.

[maya_online]

Thanks for your concern! I've been, just in case, but I am just really forgetful, they also just told me balancing too much on one plate is unhealthy, so to focus on the important things!

[Jeyanthi]

People are obviously strange everywhere..
And that is the understanding... )

[Jeyanthi]

Is it about ...
Friendship?
But formed the bond , living in different places...
Your lines runs smoothly like a river and then as a waterfall....

[emmajoygreen]

Maya, this is both startling and moving. Need to read again but meed space.. Unsure whether this is life and the cruelty of it.. wars and all. The sight of little children, eyes staring out at war photographers' cameras is heartbreakingly awful - to say the least. Maybe that is how you are thanking. For me, personally, it is the absence of children at home, in the home.. and, tis the silence and tidiness that hurts most. Come which or something else, your writing is incredible. Without apology, you knock on both conscious thought and the conscience. More should do that instead of making judgements about things they know absolutely nothing about.
(Hope this gets to your safely, my dates here vary - as if.. like time travelling and is very disconcerting. Have been deleting, maybe that.. tho how, no idea) Take care, maya and thank you

[Snow_]

Well you told me already to grow up quickly....was it correct?

[maya_online]

Hi ! lost my account so this is my new one for any reviews or other !

[cain_notfound]

I'll admit, i've been stalking your writing thus far because I found you on the discover tab, I love your style, what you write about, and you're overall gorgeous. The way you can make readers understand that you are talking about how the world can mess up children and how it has been recently without using big words or saying such is impressive, I can't even begin on how I love your voice, it's sultry and smooth, if you read an audiobook, I'm sure I could finish it in one night, stunning, as usual.