Clean up this mess.
I feel defeated once more, and get the clothes off the floor.
This order has now translated to, "You're a mess."
I feel the need to impress,
But also to rest.
My mind changes and shifts words.
I feel as if I will always be unheard,
But how must I be heard if I can't speak?
Children should be seen and not heard.
I feel defeated once more; shut my mouth and close my door.
I no longer feel like I want to be heard.
The only thing that seems to please is to be seen.
My looks shift and validate me through praise of those around me.
Maybe this is the only me worth seeing.
There's no need for the rest of me.
Simple phrases pan into endless thoughts.
Ideas and phrases leaving those and me distraught.
This writing may come as a shock,
But those whose minds are similar to mine are tortured by thoughts.
Just who am I
I have never known the answer
It's said children should be seen and not heard
Those words are a nonsense
Children really need to talk and be talked to
To learn how to behave and engage with others
Feeling truly loved and content
I guess you will see why, I don't know who am I.
It’s a long road
To where one is wishing to be
Happy in mind, very loving and kind
I hope I’m seen that way
Though I’m not perfect, have erred occasionally
I pray to become the best I can be, always
With generosity of heart
So the woman - who am I - does become - that’s me.
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.
Young children should be seen and not heard
They frighten their elders with their words
Adults insecure
Kids wholesome and pure
Distinctions between young and old blurred
What child is this?
Already tears blind the page.
Even in utero I was under attack.
My mother in a coma from domestic violence.
No wonder I was Daddy's favourite.
I was as a coral sponge when seven.
Absorbing the tension in the air.
Mummy showed me the clump of hair
Daddy had pulled out the night before.
Hidden in the rafters overhead.
This child watched siblings fight.
It was all we knew, so I hit out too.
A refrain we learned well as father said,
"Children should be seen and not heard".
Voiceless and defenseless were we.
This child grew up insecure.
Feeling worthless I repeated history.
Only this time no bruises seen.
Hidden emotional blows leave no mark.
A marriage mistake from the start.
This child died inside as an adult.
But sibling love saved my life.
A strong hand reached out to me.
Her love and tenderness plain to see.
A shared history makes strong bonds.
This child now now enters old age.
Three daughters raised in abundant love.
The chain of violence broken.
X husband I have now forgiven.
Releasing myself from that awful prison.
I used to have to do that thing you know
Children should be seen and not heard
Know your place your still young
Dont you say a word
Couldn't understand any of this
Yet it became a default of mine
So when danger came wandering
I did not know what to say except Im fine
So scared to speak to anyone
Too busy you always say
Was that man supposed to touch me
Didn't seem quite right that day
Yet everyone around me
Doesnt see my plight
So I pretend it hasn't happened
And when you appear next time
Ill pretend I'm sleeping
And hope you pass on by
Dear Grandad I hope this hurts
As in your grave you rot
For stealing my childhood
For the me time lost- to the me you forgot
Yet I blame them aswell as you
They always knew you were bad
So when I lay blame at your door
I get so very emotional and sad
As everyone of them forgot me
Thought I was ok
Just because I faked a smile
Went out pretending to play
Then I forgot what you did
Till I was of age
Now I have to write it down
As its too painful to say
So if you hear your children
Dont repeat that saying of old
Its wrong and its not valuable
To make your child feel so very cold
My Dad often said, "children should be seen and not heard!"
So my sister, brother and I would sit before him not saying a word
We stare at him and mimic his each and every action
Trying to stifle our giggles while trying to get a reaction
He yawn and three children would yawn in quick succession
Three sets of raised eyebrows mimicking his facial expression
He sniff, change positions, lick his lips or scratch his arm
Three quiet little monkeys copycatting with unique charm
This would go on for quite some time until Dad could take no more
In a booming voice he say, "get upstairs" and we'd dash to the second floor
We barely make it up the stairs before collapsing in fits of laughter
Elated we elected a response from dad, the triumph we were after
After we exhausted ourselves of giggles and could keep a straight face
Down the stairs we go and once again in front of him we take a place
We could tell Dad was also doing his best not to smile and to snicker
The game would begin anew, until laughter threatened to flicker.
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