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Bruises and Broken Bones

May God bless all, of the children, and ease their mortal pain. I trust that you have your reasons, and this life has not been in vain. They say that our life is a gift, could that really be true for all? What about incest and rape, or the fuel driven rage of alcohol? Many children will live their young lives, without a hug or even a kiss. Most of us won’t even notice, I guess ignorance must be bliss. Instead of passing swift judgement, or picking up and throwing those stones. Maybe reach out and help a child, before the bruises and broken bones.

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Paula Goldsmith

Date: 12/29/2023 8:57:00 AM

Congratulations on being on the "100 Best New Poems" list for Soup. WOW!!! What a wonderful/sad write. Your first/last lines say it all. Have a great/wonderful day/2024 writing away.................

Mark Koplin
Date: 12/30/2023 8:36:00 AM

Thank you so much Paula how wonderful to see your visit. Dogs truly are amazing creatures!

Paul Flynn

Date: 12/28/2023 9:16:00 AM

Great piece of work........concise and accurate...full of feeling

Mark Koplin
Date: 12/29/2023 9:35:00 AM

Thank you so much!!

Mark Koplin
Date: 12/29/2023 6:01:00 AM

Thank you so much!!

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 12/3/2023 8:12:00 PM

Mark, your poem brought tears. I was a foster mom, and I cannot forget. Sometimes those precious babies are born addicted to drugs or alcohol. It makes me so angry to see the suffering, and yet feel sorrow for the parents who were also the victims, often of generations. I wish there was more help for drug rehabilitation programs in place for those grown up victims that end up having impacted babies, help to recover if possible. I knew of moms who had one affected baby after another, all drug babies. One only remembered having two out of eight she birthed, she wasn't the only one like that, She is a victim, a I wish she'd get her tubes tied at least. All her kids have problems to deal with for life. She came from a bad home herself. Please God, send Your workers to the field to care for the precious innocent souls engulfed in generational brokenness. Send loving foster parents and caseworkers, please help them Lord. Sorry to turn this into a prayer Mark, but I meant the prayer. Amen!

Mark Koplin
Date: 12/4/2023 10:54:00 AM

That’s a powerful prayer! I will tell her, thank you for that. Thank you so much for being a foster parent, people just don’t realize the sacrifices that you make and how difficult it is, not only with the children’s problems but also dealing with some of the parents. Well done B.J. I’m very thankful and proud of you.

Bj Legros Kelley
Date: 12/3/2023 11:56:00 PM

By the way, please tell your wife thank you, it must be such a difficult job she has. I'm glad my children were rescued. My children are so glad that they were rescued, and give God the glory for interceding through real help on their behalf.

Lin Lane

Date: 11/13/2023 9:41:00 AM

Life is a precious gift, but not all life is created between two caring people. The first tragedy takes place then.

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 9:57:00 AM

Agreed, and then it evolves from there throughout each generation, it seems to get worse each time

Tania Kitchin

Date: 11/13/2023 6:59:00 AM

Mark, an excellent poem, you have captured the horrible life trauma these children have endured. I have worked as a social worker for most of my life and know that there system is flawed and continues to be tragic for these children.

Bj Legros Kelley
Date: 12/4/2023 12:19:00 AM

Tanya, God bless you for being there for kids in need. The system is flawed, but you are doing what you can to get kids to safety. You are there to help. We're not God, and this world can be so dark. But to every child who is helped, that is one child that was totally blessed. I'm glad my adopted children were saved from terrible situations, and they are too. I always hope the biological parents of the foster kids can get the help they need, and reunify in safety, becoming whole, and good parents. Of course, there are those that may never be able to be trusted again, in horrific situations, there is no way. It's a blessing when reunification happens, I've seen it, and it is wonderful and the best scenario when the parents get the help they need and are able to parent their children in a loving stable home <3 When that's impossible, especially for the abandoned children, it is wonderful when they are placed in a loving and safe forever home. Hugs to you Tanya. Again, thank you!

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 8:30:00 AM

My wife is a social worker for foster care, i applaud you social workers, you have the hardest job there is.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/13/2023 4:58:00 AM

Such a tragedy Mark, child abusers, rapists and pedophiles should have a millstone round their necks and thrown in the ocean. Those poor kids are scarred for life. Tom

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 5:13:00 AM

There have been so many times at 3 am that my wife had to meet with law enforcement to rescue a child. They’re sick individuals out there that violate newborns. There is so much evil in this world.

Arlo Parker

Date: 11/12/2023 9:01:00 PM

A completely avoidable tragedy. Some folk just sucketh. Observation and awareness is a key.

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 2:40:00 PM

I think your only goal here is to try and spill the soup. Cheers!

Arlo Parker
Date: 11/13/2023 1:33:00 PM

Cheap insults don’t change opinions. Everybody has a right to one. I don’t deny yours, take mine out of your mouth.

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 12:29:00 PM

I think it’s time to put down the drink and come back to planet Earth, Wayne or Arlo whatever you go by now.

Arlo Parker
Date: 11/13/2023 12:16:00 PM

Your misguided attacks don't cover the fact that we need to change societal abnormalities at every turn. Think about core issues and work to engage those while treating the unassailably tragic cases in our midst. Yes, avoidable, but not in an unchalleged fallen world.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/13/2023 9:40:00 AM

You got one thing right in this comment, Arlo. Some folk just suck. My fingers wouldn't allow me to add 'eth' to that. Observation is useless unless action is taken to remove children from harm.

Tania Kitchin
Date: 11/13/2023 7:00:00 AM

Arlo, What? Did you read the poem, children do not have a choice when born or adopted in these horrific situations. There remains issues with the system and children continue to be abuse or murdered.

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 4:11:00 AM

Completely avoidable? Well that is great news Arlo. Maybe you could come to grand forks county social services and explain to our social workers how this is avoided. While you are here you could also meet with the foster parents and tel the children how they could have avoided being abused. Please enlighten us all with your glorious news!!

Jan Allison

Date: 11/12/2023 5:50:00 PM

your poem is heart breaking on so many levels Mark, not all children are born out of love - rape and violence/ drug and alcohol abuse can lead to a pregnancy. I know one lassie who had a half caste child as a result of being raped. I've worked with little children who have been abused, I was only 16 doing my training when i saw a little lad who had been held against the bars of a gas fire, his back was like it was melted. i will say no more i am teary here:-( hugs jan xx

Mark Koplin
Date: 11/13/2023 4:07:00 AM

It is truly heartbreaking how these children are treated. There arso many horrors that happen here in our small county.