“Strange how we decorate pain.”
― Margaret Atwood
A child carries a broken heart a certain way
much differently than an old man can
he does not hide it behind a curtain or door
where no one else is allowed to stand
he bravely holds it out in the open
bare like feet out in the rain
stepping out in the puddled path
vulnerable yet willing to show the pain
for a broken heart can hold so many things
It can take in all that is hurt and lost
keeping it safe and nestled close
like a sheltered bird at freedom’s cost
the homeless sleep there with nowhere else to rest
how do you send away such a hurting soul?
the walls are lined with a menagerie of relics
heavy with the silence
of tales untold
and a child will tell and sing the songs
with every fall that scrapes his knees and heart
but with time he learns to hush the cry
like an old man who cannot hear the breaking news at dark
for the fool will hold on like a warden and his keys
never letting go of hurt till the day he dies
but the wiser one will unlock the cage
and he will simply let that birdy fly!
Our minds were on the same track today. You made the point ever so muich more eloquently!
ReplyDeleteIronically I just left a message on yours of the same. I think we did it at the same time, but mine is no more eloquent than yours my friend!
DeleteFly Away! Let Go! Open Your Heart! A lovely poem that touched MY heart.
ReplyDeleteYou always make my heart smile with your lovely comments Helen! You are the best!!
DeleteSo sad.
ReplyDelete“with time he learns to hush the cry” ... Heartbreaking.
Thank you for reading it and joining at the Muse Peppermint!
Delete"he bravely holds it out in the open / bare like feet out in the rain" - great way to express that image!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Qbit!
DeleteGood advice, Carrie. We can't count the birds we turned loose but will feed those we keep confined way too long.
ReplyDelete..
Very true Jim, and thank you. :-)
DeleteI love this progression, from the child holding his hurt out, then learning to keep it in, finally letting it fly free. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sherry!
DeleteLook! Up in the sky! It's a bird, it's a....yep, a bird!
ReplyDeleteLOL yep it's a bird! :-))
Deletean old man knows he doesn't have long. a child thinks they will live forever. may the child realize long before they grow old that the open cage is the path of least suffering. beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteYou speak a great truth here Lisa. Thank you so much!
DeleteThe open cage is the key to healing in the journey of life. Beautifully expressed ....
ReplyDeleteVery true my friend, and thank you so much!
DeleteLove the feeling of freedom in the final lines and the delicate description of the well-kept heartaches.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Chrissa!
DeleteSo well expressed. These lines especially:
ReplyDelete'the walls are lined with a menagerie of relics
heavy with the silence of tales untold.'
I am glad you liked it Marion. So glad you joined us at the Muse this week!
DeleteThis is beautiful, full of wisdom and truth. I saw myself in your words. But I cannot escape my pain, it is the only thing that tells me for certain that I am still alive. Laughter comes from the heart — pain comes from the soul. I really liked this piece Carrie. It stirred deep thoughts for me.
ReplyDeleteI wish you could escape your pain Rob. I know you have been through so much. I am glad you liked it and hope that some of the deep thoughts are hopeful and full of peace.
DeleteWisdom and healing, the open cage serves well for both asoects of the process of maturing
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by to read mine Carrie
Muvh❤love
You are right dear Gillena! Always glad to see you at the Muse!
DeleteThis one, in it’s elegance, really touched me.
Delete