Living In the Shadows

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Poetry/Free Verse/living in the shadows
Copyright Protected, ID 09-1580-451-22
All Rights Reserved, 2023

Written September 22, 2023
For the International Contest, Shadows
Sponsor, Regina McIntosh, Judged 09/24/2023

Second Place

Iron Railings NJ | Build Wrought Iron Railings in NJ | (973) 481-5550

 

                        the shadows are my home
            cruel streets is where I wander
a cardboard box in an alley my bed
as gloomy shapes pass me without a care
                        a poor runaway kid

once, I had a home and a family
once, I had a sweet mother who loved me
       memories come
                          my dad is a bad drunk
             he beat my mom until she died

I ran into the night as he chased me
            he gave up trying to caught me
      that's when I changed
                        and became a shadow
            hiding my face during the day

I survive by begging for some money
in the dim evening a child pathetic
                         tugs at peoples heart strings
sometimes, a kind baker gives the poor bread
I am always ready to run away

      it is raining 
          I cup my hands to drink
                        and wash my dirty face
in a store window I see knotted hair
            my fate is bleak and I am tired, tired, tired

so, I gather all my little girl courage 
      and walk out of the shadows
              and touch a policeman's hand . . .

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Sam Kauffman

Date: 9/25/2023 11:54:00 AM

Intensely powerful, Constance. You have captured the dark shadow of abuse and the emotions of this terrible crime and yet your ending is a powerful statement of hope! Congratulations on your win! Blessings and prayers for all of those children and people who endure any kind of abuse!

Constance La France
Date: 9/26/2023 11:14:00 AM

Sam, thank you so much for the compliment, comment and congratulations, it saddens me that more children don't touch a policeman/woman's hand.

Valsa George

Date: 9/24/2023 7:18:00 PM

Children when thrown into the streets, especially girls can have only a shadowy existence as vultures hide everywhere to prey on them. They struggle for their daily bread, stretching their hands before strangers. So pathetic and heart wrenching! Congratulations on your top win dear Constance.

Constance La France
Date: 9/26/2023 11:16:00 AM

Valsa, thank you so much for the comment, and congratulations, heartbreaking for sure to see children on the street, begging.

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 9/24/2023 12:31:00 AM

Amazing writing. I just love this. Congrats on your top win in the shadows contest. God bless you with much love, Gina

Constance La France
Date: 9/24/2023 6:42:00 AM

Gina, thank you so much for the compliment, comment and congrats, blessings and love.

Silent One

Date: 9/22/2023 11:56:00 AM

This is heart breaking my friend.. no child should have to ever suffer from these horrors, but so sad that so many do and so many go unpunished.. You expressed this in your usual unique emotive style of writing..

Constance La France
Date: 9/23/2023 11:38:00 AM

Silent, thank you so much for the comment, and the compliment, it is heartbreaking to see children begging on the streets.