As always, you won’t remember tomorrow. The words you spew without a care, that damage more than a bullet. He takes the verbal blows just like a pro boxer at this stage of the game called life, so used to being your personal punching bag. Yet there you are, drowning yourself in alcohol again and again. Maybe one day, that little boy inside will see he has more worth than being a personal punching bag and taking the verbal blows again and again.
You are more than his addiction.
You are worth respect.
a blue chevy impala basks in a suburban driveway
like a beached whale it oozes gases and black oils
its seeping white walls beg for rubber movements
little boy inside the house sits on a pleated couch
he watches the setting sun through a screen door
fat mother stirs pudding in a wall-papered kitchen
smoking father works a tv guide crossword puzzle
he flicks white hot dust into a crystal glass ashtray
the corner television set transmits black and white
cathode rays of a half-naked wrestler pinned down
the destroyer with mask on lifts his victorious arms
little boy hears calliope music in the green distance
the ice cream man comes with dry ice and cologne
still three blocks away he makes another long stop
fat mother fries bloody meats in a fiery blue skillet
she turns on boss radio to hear elvis sing the blues
little boy goes to the admiral and turns the channel
bishop sheen appears in black cursing the darkness
skipper frank implores the kids to brush after meals
tennessee tuxedo chases tiger tornado to megapolis
smoking father finishes a tv guide crossword puzzle
the ice cream man arrives with dry ice and cologne
Off to school in morning dark,
Passing through the village park.
Caught the light at Hill and Main.
Crossed the tracks before the train.
Past the houses and the stores,
Up the hill and through the doors.
Sat in silence, row by row,
Watched the clock tick, slow by slow.
Heard the bell ring in the hall,
What I learned I can’t recall.
Made my way back down the hill.
Steps on sidewalk echo still.
If you step upon a crack,
Sure to break your mother’s back.
Turned the corner at our street,
Thoughts of learning in retreat.
Years have come and years have gone,
Boy inside me lingers on.
I heard you all along
I was selfish
I closed my ears to you
A young boy inside
Felt he had to hide
I don’t know how to love
I always find a way to run
On the run
On my own
Is my home
A young boy inside
Feels all alone
Holding everything back
Scared of the outside
I have my reasons
Crying alone at night
No way
To get away
A little boy escapes
Through toys in the day
A little pain in a little heart
A little innocence
A little family torn apart
I know you were always there
I wasn’t the best at listening
Thank you for showing me the way
You kept me together
Through hard times
You sent angels by my side
Bottled my tears
When I thought no one was near
Counted my hairs
When I thought no one cared
I have never lost my zest for fun and laughter
Though long since I could jump a rope
Still enjoy the punchline remembered after
I have forgotten the story leading up to it
Down deep inside is this little boy
Who tells the old man, “It’s time to sit!”
I have often sought from that child advice
When new, fresher approaches are needed
My inner child seldom pauses to think twice.
I have never hesitated to thoughtfully resort
To that little boy inside who never grew up
Who loves the fun and games of a sport.
I have that appreciation for a kitten or a pup
Love to play in the meadow’s creek, and though
Nearly eighty, fight like the dickens to never grow up!
FIRST PLACE TROPHY WINNER
written August 31, 2021
especially for "Your Inner Child" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Chantelle Anne Cooke
You left us so suddenly,
Never expected this day to come.
How can I be both?
A father and mother to our son?
I can not make this one better,
I can't kiss his pain away.
I can not give him his one wish,
That you were here today.
Even though he is a grown man,
He is still a boy inside.
I can not stand to see his pain,
When i look into his eyes.
I can only do the best I can,
To be all that he needs.
Until one day you reunite,
for Eternity.
One thought of her and your heart skips a beat
Which prompts the little boy inside to squirm
That sends a tingling feeling to your feet
You feel as clumsy as a pachyderm
The stomach starts to tumble like a weed
You're breath is labored like you ran a mile
The loneliness begins to feel the need
If that ain't love, then why that silly smile
And yet you tell yourself,"I'm not in love"
"I do not want this happening to me"
You never thought you'd find the one dreamed of
In all those dreams that end so happily
How quickly one forgets love causes pain
Love feels so good it short circuits the brain
July 16 2017
by Daniel Turner
The old man looked a little out of place
Astride his pony on the carousel
A smile from yesterday across his face
As if he were entranced in some strange spell
A silver knight upon a silver steed
A cowboy riding herd out on the range
The little boy inside had been set free
Between the up and down, we watched him change
And when it stopped he sat there deep in thought
He pulled the little boy in with a sigh
A memory is what his dollar bought
I'm sure the price was not what made him cry
The little boy that cries inside the man, dry your eyes, why has trouble come for me?
Be still my soul deep from within, where terror reigns supreme.
The night seems long and bitter cold,
as day turns to night and my heart of stone.
Joy and laughter once close friends on the playgrounds of years gone by,
where the little boy is now a man, and laughter exchanged for a cry.
How did my life turn down this path and my child like dreams vanish?
All hope has run it's course and left me all alone.
I've cried and cried some more, my tears are all dried up, I'm a boy within a man, and a man without a home.
Who will cry for the little boy, the little boy inside the man?
I've been left here on this street to once again die alone.
Each day that passes like a turned page in a fairy tale.
This life that I live is real and has become a living jail.
O gentle breeze blow, restore my youth to me, awaken the little boy, the one with all his dreams.
A helping hand called goodness and mercy, angels all around, taking me to a place called heaven, at last homeward bound.
I fell asleep on this street, but never really alone, I have a friend in Jesus, and always had a home.
Don't judge before you know
Don't laugh before you go
There's more than meets the eye
A broken boy inside
Fighting depression
Fallen prey to the great deception
Life at home is tough
He's almost had enough
Searching for a meaning
Not sure which way to be leaning
Headphones in 24/7
Wants nothing to do with hell or heaven
Lost, confused, alone
Scared, no place to go
Fighting monsters deep down
He go to hell before he'd make a sound
Don't judge before you know
Don't laugh before you go
There's more than meets the eye
A broken boy inside
Whatever your seed is,
it doesn't want my skin.
You never dream of anything of me:
hands, mouth, arms,
the weight of me on you,
tongue, sweat, old willy boy inside--
nothing of my kind allures.
You would rather some sweet Marie,
her body breasting you with nipple,
her perfume offering you delirious wine--
you want nothing of mine.
But, hey, okay--love me anyway, any way.
Love the life and joy of me, my smile.
Love my unquenchable desire; love that I can see you.
Love that I can have and hold you deep and dearly--
beyond tumble, beyond any touch or tingle.
Don't judge before you know
Don't laugh before you go
There's more than meets the eye
A broken boy inside
Trying to fight depression
Fallen prey to the great deception
Life at home is tough
He's almost had enough
Searching for a meaning
Not sure which way to be leaning
Headphones in twenty-four seven
Want's nothing to do with God or Heaven
Lost, confused, alone
Scared, no place to go
Fighting demons deep down
He'd go to hell before he'd make a sound
A glimmer of hope just out of reach
She shows him her ways, tries to teach
An angel in the dark, a bullet hitting the mark
A life line before it's too late, a chance in time, fate
Don't judge before you know
Don't laugh before you go
There's more than meets the eye
A broken boy inside
I look in the
mirror,
What do I see?
A broken boy gazes
out at me,
I'm not perfect,
I will never be,
That person people
want me to be,
I'm unique,
I write poetry, I
draw, I like to
speak,
I see myself inside,
The boy I always
hide,
I need a friend,
I want the pain to
end,
Reflections lie,
The boy inside dies,
Love me,
I need peace,
Help me,
I need a friend,
( to the tune of "Yankee Doodle")
Grandpa went to nursery school
To fetch his darling grandson;
Put the boy inside his car,
But somehow not the planned one.
Grandpa made a little goof;
Boys had outfits matchin’.
Sound like just a mix-up, not
An evil plan he’s hatchin’.
Why, though did the boy he took
Not recognize a stranger?
Luckily for all, he wasn’t
In what we’d call danger.
Next time, grandpa stays at home
To study grandkids’ faces;
So hopefully, he’ll recognize
The next one he replaces!
I can remember vaguely when i was a child
When my heart hurt i would cry
And Daddy dearest would beat me
Whenever tears were in my eyes
I remember my brother lying to him
Just to save his own selfish skin
My Father would believe him before me
And beat me up all over again
I remember being whipped by his thick belt
For not putting away a toy
The confining me to my bed in the dark
And meals i could not enjoy
These memories used to haunt me
But they have faded over time
I came to forgive my Father
When i found out his child hood was worse
than mine
We now talk on different occasions
And a little love cant be denied
But that little boy inside me
Tells me to keep that wall way up high
I learned to listen to that inner child
Who was forced to grow up way to fast
Now I see all the warning signs flashing
By just listening to the past
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