The Smallest Titan

The child inside me

Is always crying,

And he cannot stop.

Tears burst forth

In each moment

Afresh:

Hot, salty and stinging the eyes, before

Racing down roseate cheeks

And springing off into space

Now here, now there.

 

I would like to comfort him,

But he does not understand

Words.

He is being crushed

Under the weight

Of a black globe of grief

Too enormous

For his small frame

To bear.

 

Little Atlas,

You will cry

Forever.

Reviews

[Firebird]

I dont cry for just any old poem. That one is a good one.

[Zugzwang]

Thank you, Firebird. Sorry if the poem caused you distress. My sister cried when she read my poems and I won't let my mum read them!! The topic is necessarily upsetting, but the poem is an attempt to articulate my inner experience, and this is pretty stark I suppose. The positive side is that I get a lot of release from writing poetry and it makes me a happier person. Thank you for your compassion.

[Firebird]

Oh that's OK. I understand about the release and it leaving you to feel happier I get the same thing from mine. That's probably why most poets do it. I've only started writing poetry since I started yoga and meditation. I think it helped me to access my inner self. I feel a lot better for it and compassion is one of the side effects. It can't harm can it? I have just today asked my mum to read my poems. Not too sure what she will make of them.

[Zugzwang]

Wow, that's mega. I hope she likes them. Obviously I can only let my mum read positive poems of mine. But truth be told, I don't think she's much inyerested in poetry. Not many people are.

[Firebird]

Lol my mum hates poetry! She was put off it as a child at school.

[Firebird]

That actually made me cry.

[terry smith]

I see him trying to lift a black hole....sad but well written!

[Zugzwang]

Now that's a powerful image!! Thank you for your cool interpretation. I may just use that when I do some editing. Thanks a lot!

[terry smith]

sure!!sorry I have been so busy writing I haven't had much time to review others.

[Zugzwang]

Yar, well I am the same... work has been crazy so no time to do much of anything!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like the idea of Little Atlas....and yes, there is that child inside of us. We wish he would grow up and out of the tears...but again---that child keeps us real, keeps us sensitive to emotion...don't want to be a stoic, stone cold adult...i'd rather keep that child inside me.

excellent piece.

j.

[Zugzwang]

Yes, we all have a child inside us, sometimes sad, sometimes joyful. I agree that it is the child that is the wellspri g of much of our emotional life. It will always be with us I think, it is a part of us. Thank you for your insights, Jacob.

[alifeacoustic]

Wise words indeed Zeitnot. That child is burdened with not understanding the world around him and will always be confused and perplexed by the actions of those around him. And who can blame him.
Superbly written and refreshingly honest words, as ever.

[Zugzwang]

Thank you, Acoustic. Your assessment is true and accurate (about the child, not me being wise!). I guess for me it was an interesting observation. Your feedback is much appreciated. Thank you.

[alifeacoustic]

That child within us all is wiser than we could ever hope to be. I think he is the reason I have dissociative Identity Disorder, every time I look in the mirror I expect to see him and not the stranger that I am.

[Zugzwang]

Yes, I imagine it must be very distressing and disorienting to experience DID. The level of psychic distress must be enormous. The human mind really is an amazing thing and so very difficult to understand. I wish you the best on your journey.