inside my heart [a little girl cries]

i hear her cry (sometimes)
in the middle of the
numinous night.

i listen to the scared
plaintive tones
of her voice,
crawl deeper into the darkness
and pretend
not to hear.

yet my throat is lined
with the taste
of her fear.

she pleads with me
to hold her tight
(to my heart).

i start to understand this pressing need
to be touched...
(oh what i would give to be held).

so i cover myself in blankets
and try to breathe.

her voice is a clear stream
of sunshine
laced with enough shadows
to leave me blind.

i touch my hand to my heart beat
and leave her [it all]
behind.

she was alone for so long
what would my attention do now?
but leave her feeling bitter,
and more
than a little
betrayed.

if i had only known
(those many years ago)
the way her little fingers
had hugged each other
and prayed.

i try to breathe.
but
my heart is filled with all the tears she has cried.

so i cover my ears
and shut my eyes
and hum
a sweet,
sad lullaby.
 

Reviews

[Antony]

Kara, WOW! what a talented writer you are. You have all those special words that grab the readers heart and soul. This was beautiful.
Tony

[Tina D.]

if i had only known
(those many years ago)
the way her little fingers
had hugged each other
and prayed.

This is my favorite verse, it had me picturing every word, seeing her with hands folded in prayer. This is so beautiful, you have such an amazing talent, wonderful piece!

[Ron Cole]

This is wonderful! Within each adult, there is a child, and that child is the essence of self of the adult! This poem seems to be about a child, never born, but longed for, and very much alive in the psyche! This poem is absolutely fantastic, the Angellic soul of a child, crying in the dreams of the mother (adult)! Wow! Amazing (and really, really good)!!!

[Carlos Isaias Ruiz]

baby!

[Gandré]

O, Kara, what a sad beautiful poem!
"her voice is a clear stream
of sunshine
laced with enough shadows
to leave me blind."

It s brilliant!

[John Destalo]

So sad and so brilliant, really a beautiful poem.

I especially liked the imagery in these lines:

"if i had only known
(those many years ago)
the way her little fingers
had hugged each other
and prayed."

[Christine Moffatt]

Wow, you've got some magnificent lines in this one. The one that caught me first was "yet my throat is lined/with the taste/of her fear." I like how you spliced the voice of the narrator with the emotion of the inner child as well -- they're both part of the same person, yet so divorced from one another. Excellent work! :)

[Richard K]

Innocence lost that cannot be regained. My heart bled for this piece, makes me want to hold you tight. And that closing

so i cover my ears
amd shut my eyes
and hum
a sweet,
sad lullaby

Beautiful. I adore you!

[Sarah Williams]

A very sad and almost intoxicating piece. I found myself leaning a little closer to the computer screen for this one, trying to get a little closer to that sad little girl. You have a way of inspiring feeling with your words, and that is quite a talent to possess. If I were near you, I'd give you a big hug! :o)

she was alone for so long
what would my attention do now?
but leave her feeling bitter,
and more
than a little
betrayed.

if i had only known
(those many years ago)
the way her little fingers
had hugged each other
and prayed.


--my two favorite stanzas...tried to pick just one, but couldn't do it! Nice work!

[Luke Brooks]

Wow. Terribly sad. Heart wrenching.
There is nothing in this world that comforts me more than just a simple hug, to be held or hold, or just a pat on the shoulder.
Sometimes even the shortest second of physical contact can help so much more than 1000 words of consolation.

yet my throat is lined
with the taste
of her fear.

Really good write. Thank you.