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No Face

I saw her. Yes over there, sitting in that chair. Being seen but not heard. Yes just sitting there with her legs crossed. She couldn’t cry She couldn’t speak She had no face It wasn’t that she had nothing to say, there was lots going on in her head. But we kept telling her, “Children should be seen and not heard”. After all big people have all the answers, young people don’t really know what’s best. They are too idealistic Too naive We did our thing Destroying the thing The thing we were leaving for her Maybe she actually had a face Maybe she was screaming at us But we couldn’t hear her we had no ears we couldn’t see her we had no eyes We just had a mouth We screamed a lot We talked a lot But we didn’t say a lot She saw me. Yes over there, sitting in that wheel chair. Being seen but not heard. I couldn’t speak. She couldn’t see me cry, I didn’t have a face.

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Unseeking Seeker

Date: 10/18/2023 5:30:00 PM

Apathy walks alone in the midst of many. A powerful write, Richard. Enjoyed.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 10/18/2023 6:37:00 PM

Thanks old friend.

Alexis Y.

Date: 10/2/2023 6:48:00 AM

WoW! Richard, I echo what Andrea said, this is well-written deep, and thought-provoking. Have a wonderful day;-)Alexis

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 10/18/2023 6:38:00 PM

Much appreciated. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Hilda Greenhough

Date: 9/30/2023 9:06:00 AM

A very thought- provoking poem. It was an inspiration which I enjoyed.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/30/2023 9:12:00 AM

Much appreciated.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/28/2023 2:50:00 PM

Wow. So deep. It cuts to the core.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/28/2023 3:18:00 PM

Thanks Andrea. Hugs Rick.

Bill Baker

Date: 9/28/2023 2:35:00 PM

Con't from below ... But with humans we cannot acknowledge the differences in people without dividing into favorable and unfavorable characteristics. It is sad hoe humanity has devolved into a form that is narcistic. Thanks for sharing your thoughts through your poetry, Richard. (I should have done the same instead of ranting here.) A poet friend in Texas, Bill p.s. I'll use Soup Mail next time.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/28/2023 3:21:00 PM

Here is more than fine. I appreciate the dialogue. I’m left wondering if humanity is not pretty much the same as it has always been? I’ll have to give it more thought.

Bill Baker

Date: 9/28/2023 2:32:00 PM

Very creative and fulfilling to read, Rick. The full circle of life ... youth to senior adult, to same problems appear and for the same reasons. The skills of meaningful communication are not taught in most homes, or at most school. Open dialog is not modeled for the young and then when older they don't have the skill set to communicate with their young. A vicious cycle. How ease it is to see differences is nature and applaud their beauty, even acknowledge it is the differences that counts.

James Peranteau

Date: 9/28/2023 12:58:00 AM

my dear poet, i read sum comments vide infra....what you last replied to"Vaisa", and if we don't Richard, paypacks are a biatch...our children need to listen or down we'll go if, we not only don't speak up, we don't walk the talk....to me, this write iz the quintassental child placing parent i nursing home.....lol....yikes....much love, james

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/28/2023 3:23:00 PM

Despite current circumstances I remain hopeful. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Valsa George

Date: 9/27/2023 9:40:00 AM

Sadly many become faceless when they grow old and helpless. They are silent not because they haven't anything to tell us but because we never care to listen to them. You have drawn a poignant picture of a lady sitting in a wheel chair unattended and unheard. Quite a deep poem, dear Tichard.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/27/2023 5:42:00 PM

Thanks, this is also a commentary on the environment. We are failing to listen to our young people. Eventually we can be rendered voiceless if we fail to listen.

Paige Hind

Date: 9/26/2023 1:42:00 PM

This is deep and very sad. A lot full of emotion...

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/26/2023 1:59:00 PM

Thanks for reading.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 9/25/2023 9:52:00 PM

I love how you start and ended this, lovely poetry Richard.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/26/2023 6:00:00 AM

Thanks brother.

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 9/25/2023 3:28:00 PM

Hello Richard, Being seen and not heard is very sad. There are many people that are seen and not heard. Enjoy your evening my friend. /Darlene\

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 9/26/2023 10:16:00 AM

Hello Richard, Your welcome. Enjoy your day my friend. /Darlene\

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/26/2023 6:01:00 AM

You as well. Thanks for your visit.

Sotto Poet

Date: 9/25/2023 2:45:00 PM

A wonderful poem, Richard, your verses are truly exquisite, filled with stunning visuals that dance in the play of light and darkness. The metaphors are like delicate flowers, carefully chosen adjectives and descriptive diction intricately woven into every line. It left me completely mesmerized, as I could feel the deep sadness facing faceless individuals, and the great messages that flowed through the verses in a harmonious rhythm.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/26/2023 6:03:00 AM

I appreciate your poignant response. Thanks for your visit Sotto.blessings Richard.

Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 9/25/2023 1:02:00 PM

A powerful poem, Richard. You're right, I did like it. Being seen but not heard can feel sad and lonely, even devastating. To be faceless amongst other humans can even be soul crushing. What a poignant message. I sometimes felt that way growing up--grew up in a neighborhood and family of all boys..oh my. Now that I'm aging, I sometimes feel as if I'm being seen and not hard...creates little twinges of sadness. What a relatable poem. Thanks for sharing your poetic voice. Enjoy your afternoon

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/25/2023 1:06:00 PM

You as well Sarah, blessings to you.

Ink Empress

Date: 9/25/2023 12:14:00 PM

So deeply moving especially those last lines are soul stirring! Loving the flow and how you’ve woven words and how this is so evocative. “Being seen but not heard” i think many been there: loved this

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/25/2023 12:24:00 PM

Thanks. As we age we tend to be occupying that same position. Not pleasant at either time.