Hollow

I knew them in their innocence
Once filled with imagination and joy
Playing fun games, climbing trees
Offering a helping hand to others
Able to care, able to be who they are
Then, those who ruled had their way
Teaching inexplicable things
They were trapped by ‘conditional’ love
Striving, always striving to earn it
Nothing was ever good enough
Then abuse, turned their fear to rage
Later, I saw them become hollow
Empathy was gone with time
Hollow like dead, old, trees
Acting out as if they will never fall
Following footsteps of those who ruled
Becoming a reflection of all they endured
They are living, but they are gone
Carrying out their immoral ways
Was it the only way to get recognition?
Was it the only way to be safe?
By being on the side of perpetrators?
I will never know the full reason
I have only watched to witness
Their innocence disappear in the dark
But, I still remember the days
When they were young and innocent
Just trying to be who they are
Now, their eyes hold a vacant stare
Their beings are hollow, without a care
Turned into the monsters they once feared

Heidi Sands

6/11/18

*Placed 2nd in the Hollow Contest.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Ellison Avatar
July 13, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Congrats Heidi!!! Love, Happy Jack XOX
Sands Avatar
July 13, 2018 at 10:07 AM
Thank you Jack! :)
Gentry Avatar
June 20, 2018 at 11:26 PM
Congratulations on your win!
Sands Avatar
June 21, 2018 at 6:21 AM
Thank you Susan :)
Talbot Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 7:15 PM
Back to congratulate you Sandra on a well worthy winner. Mick
Sands Avatar
June 17, 2018 at 6:53 AM
Thank you Mick. ..Heidi
Hamilton Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 1:02 PM
Amazing poetry Heidi, congrats on your win!
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Thank you John. I appreciate all your support :)
Pett Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 12:05 PM
Congratulations on your well deserved win Heidi, excellent poetry. :))
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 1:02 PM
Thank you so much Roy. I appreciate your support :)
La France Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 11:35 AM
Heidi, congratulations on your win in the contest with this amazing write. Hope you are having a good day. Constance
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Thank you very much BW. I hope you are having a nice day too :)
Gentile Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:38 AM
Congratulation Heidi, Excellent and well deserved xxoo
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Thank you Mike. I appreciate your support :)
Ibeh Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:33 AM
Heartiest congratulations on your much-deserved win, Heidi!:-)
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Thank you so much Edward :)
Roper Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:27 AM
Heidi, awesome win :) congratulations . Hugs Eve ~' *
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Thank you Eve. I appreciate your support :)
May Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:11 AM
Congrats on your win Heidi
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Thank you very much Joseph :)
Richards Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:06 AM
This heart-breaking and deeply moving poem speaks volumes, Heidi ! Well done!! A big congratulations to you!
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Thank you very much Carrie :)
Warrior Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 9:35 AM
Back to congrats Heidi...your moving on up and rightly so...all the best my friend...L&L...^WW^
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 9:37 AM
Thank you very much WW . L&L to you :)
Wade Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 8:51 AM
Well done on your amazing win, great piece
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Thank you Faux ! :)
Cunningham Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 7:26 AM
Well deserved congratulations Heidi . Tom.
Sands Avatar
June 16, 2018 at 7:39 AM
Thank you so much Tom :) I am happy about it.
Wolf Avatar
June 12, 2018 at 11:02 AM
Chilling--but (sadly) all too resonating...Here's to good fortune in the contest, Heidi! :) gw
Sands Avatar
June 12, 2018 at 2:39 PM
Thank you so much Gershon :)
Brewer Avatar
June 12, 2018 at 11:00 AM
A stark, dark and evocative poem that has an impact of confronted truth. Well written, Heidi.
Sands Avatar
June 12, 2018 at 2:39 PM
Thank you Geoffrey ! :)
Kannan Avatar
June 12, 2018 at 4:59 AM
Wow. This is a great entry, Heidi. Deep and powerful poetry. How true!. You did a wonderful job here. I enjoyed it.
Sands Avatar
June 12, 2018 at 5:15 AM
Thank you Supraja. I appreciate your comment :)
Dutta Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 10:40 AM
Very intelligently composed revealing depth of hollowness. Really I admire.
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Thank you very much Anisha :)
Warrior Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 10:37 AM
The reality of the hollowness...heartfelt my friend...great verse Heidi...love & light to those in their hollow...^WW^
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 5:30 PM
Thank you WW. I appreciate all your support :)
Pigeon Tart Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 8:42 AM
Oh my. Gripping ink Heidi. A winner for me. Good luck in the contest! xomo
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Thank you very much Maureen :)
Talbot Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 8:37 AM
How true is that, 'TURNED INTO MONSTERS THEY ONCE FEARED', and I will add, 'FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES LIVE IN DENIAL, NO TEARS'! Good luck in the contest. Mick
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Denial is deep Mick. Thank you for your comment on this :)
Ahsinger Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 8:32 AM
It's sad to say what all the innocent see and hear now a days. It's a heartfelt poem well written. Thank you for your comment and wish you the best in the contest....Donna
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 5:28 PM
Thank you for your comment Donna. I appreciate it :)
Trifiatis Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 7:12 AM
Dearest Heidi, in this profound poem you describe so vividly humanity's decadence! It is a great message and a superb assessment of today's world! Excellent!
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 7:53 AM
Thank you so much Demetrios :)
May Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 7:12 AM
A powerful portrayal of how people can be robbed of their innocence, best wishes in the contest
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 7:53 AM
Thank you very much Joseph :)
Pandit Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 7:05 AM
You have depicted how innocent lives change... impacted by their surroundings..the message in your poem rings true! Though sad to see, good turns into bad..very thoughtful questions you pose..a well crafted commentary on life..best for a win, Heidi.
Sands Avatar
June 11, 2018 at 7:06 AM
It happens Vijay. I have witnessed it. Thank you for your feedback on this. I appreciate it very much :)
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