By aparajita
Date: 2003 Sep 24
Comment on this Work
[[2003.09.24.19.20.20753]]

here lies...

here lies innocence, dead at age 7
from a man who lustily took
what should have been left alone
trusted friend of the family
deceiver and betrayer
leaving pain and confusion behind

here lies naivete, dead at age 13
from a boy with fumbling hands
full of the promises of love
taking and not giving
leaving more confusion
and warped perceptions behind

here lies dreams, dead at age 21
shattered by a boy-man with a heavy hand
bruising flesh and spirit
with each ounce of liquor drank
leaving a family behind
to fight each day for survival

here lies love, dead at age 32
from a man with cold detachment
says he guesses he never loved after all
doing the deed while speaking false
leaving a broken spirit and heart behind

here lies longing, dead at age 40
slain by men who with insensitivity
care only about the outside
and would take what was left
for selfish pleasures
leaving emptiness behind

here lies where hope and determination will go
twins that refuse to be put away
until the last star has been gazed at
the last dance and the last song felt
leaving the promise of tomorrow
as long as the will to go on exists