The Pain of Parental Rejection

A gaping wound oozes within,
the soul of those despised by kin.
The very ones who gave them birth
treated them as without worth.
 
Whether it is covert or overt
Rejection causes deep soul hurt.
The child who lacks a parent’s love
Feels a hurt that’s hard to get rid of.

Parents who their offspring reject,
were themselves by rejection wrecked.
They could not give that which they lacked,
Against their soul, the odds were stacked.

Feelings of rejection are repressed
until they can safely be expressed.
The rejected devise ways to cope,
which covers a very wide scope.

Some daydream about having sex,
Because rejection pain makes them vex.
Others from social contact withdraw,
So, they can hide their perceived flaw.

Rejection damages self-esteem
and the blow to self-worth is extreme.
This leads the rejected to self-hate
and causes many to refuse to date.

The rejected experience deep fear
So, they keep others from coming near.
 They desire their true self to hide,
and maintain a modicum of pride.

Some rejected have feelings of guilt,
which to them seems to be inbuilt.
They cannot detect the exact source,
But that does not lessen the guilt’s force.

Many of those who were rejected,
complain of feeling so dejected.
Their world is covered with a dull gray,
As on their souls, self-pity weighs.

Jesus, God’s son a human became.
Upon a cross, He suffered shame.
Despised and rejected was He,
So, rejected souls to Him can flee.

Come unto me you rejected soul.
I want to heal and make you whole.
I know you are hurt and feel your pain,
It is for you my son was slain.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

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Edmonds  Avatar
November 30, 2023 at 1:53 AM
That put tears in my eyes David, the feeling of rejection never goes away, it’s buried inside to the end of one’s days…Belle
Richmond Avatar
November 30, 2023 at 7:34 AM
Hello Beryl. Thanks for your comment. I am currently reading a book by Dr Evoy who spent over 25 years of his career as a Psychologist working with clients suffering from rejection. Just reading the comments of these individuals made me sad. This is what inspired me to write this poem. It is my hope that this poem will bring hope to those who are suffering from the ravages of rejection.
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