Conkers

Horse chestnuts and long sticks scattered around
where children ,balancing along a wall
had tried their best to bring the conkers down,
since it was not yet time for them to fall.
Some shells were slightly open, and inside
lay nuts that caught the sun, a gleaming white,
impatient kids using their thumbnails prised
the shell apart to find a fruit unripe.
These youngsters grow old way before their time,
exposed to influence beyond their years,
not maturing slowly to reach their prime
their childish minds burdened with adult fears.
Depression, self-harm and anxiety,
from images of perfection instilled
by social media and on the TV
fast forward through their childhoods, unfulfilled.
How many with sad futures? Who can tell,
unripened lives lived in their broken shells.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Laurie Avatar
September 3, 2020 at 4:45 PM
G'day Viv ... I trust you are well and keeping safe. It's a real pity that kids can't be kids any more. Instead of playing sport or being adventurous, they have been lured into the electronic age and from there who can tell - thank you Viv - Lindsay
Carmack Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 8:09 PM
Viv - it has been a while. This is a nicely crafted poem. Amazing how bad things have gotten and it is accelerating. A lot of theories, but to me, it is fundamentally spiritual in origin. Good to be reading you again.
Allison Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 10:06 AM
Beautifully penned Mr Viv - sadly so true for many youngsters today who have maybe never even seen one - too wrapped up in technology to go out and have fun. I still love the thrill of finding a conker . SO good to see you back my friend:-) hugs Jan xx
Leffanta Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 12:06 PM
Quite astute! Aloha! Rico
Wigley Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 11:48 PM
Mahalo, Rico
Lawless Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 3:57 AM
Viv, that last line brought goosebumps to my soul. It is a very sad commentary expressed in a magnificent metaphor.
Wigley Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 11:49 PM
Thanks, John. I do fear for their future. Stay safe. Regards, Viv
Krutsinger Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 3:52 AM
That last line is so telling of the world our children's children are living in today. "burdened with adult fears, depression, self-harm, anxiety" -you have nailed it right there Viv. This is so perfect for 2020 especially. Bravo!
Wigley Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 11:50 PM
Thanks, Caren, I don't envy their childhoods compared to mine. Viv x
Cunningham Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 1:27 AM
That took me back Viv, used to spend hours in our local park throwing sticks and we'd scarper when we saw the park keeper coming on his bike. Kids today would rather stay in their rooms playing games and spending hours on social media. Hope you're well Tom
Wigley Avatar
August 30, 2020 at 11:50 PM
Used to, Tom? I still do when nobody is watching :) Stay safe. Regards, Viv
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