Strange Child | Teen Ink

Strange Child MAG

April 27, 2010
By 9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments

Child, the skin on your cheeks is tougher than leather.
Always deep red as if every stare, whisper, snide comment
constantly ricochets off the hide of the Nemean lion.
But I know that while the wounds may not have pierced
your flesh, they have consumed you from the inside out until
all the armor has been stripped away and there is only you left.
You stand, as vulnerable as the rest of us,
just waiting for the hail of stones to break you.
But there is nothing but the mute breaths hanging in the still air.

They thought you strange, alien-like, your odd
mannerisms are so new to some, yet so familiar to me.
The way your eyes quiver as you fight the urge to dart around
for an unclosed face, and the way your hands stay rigid
is like a dream, a recollection, a memory.
Breathe, child, you are safe.
Grow a new skin free of the wounds of past battles you
did not win, and do not be ashamed of the scars left behind.
Life is a war you will not lose.


The author's comments:
we were given an article in english about child african soldiers, and we had to write a poem based off of words in the text. For this, I strayed a little bit and it came out about a child who is for once shedding his/her hard exterior for somethign more flexible.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 3 comments.


KylieK GOLD said...
on Dec. 12 2012 at 3:24 pm
KylieK GOLD, Mt. Washington, Kentucky
11 articles 0 photos 270 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To love is to surpass one's self."

Beautiful. Well-crafted.

on Jan. 1 2011 at 4:04 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
Hey thanks so much!!
Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I was much better at that last year...sophomore year is pretty tough on me >.<
But your comments are always always appreciated, thank you so much for your support :]

on Jul. 5 2010 at 4:41 pm
bbygurl21 PLATINUM, Boston, Massachusetts
29 articles 0 photos 111 comments

Favorite Quote:
sticks n stones my brick my bones but words cant

this is the most beutiful thing i have read my whole life. i am be 16 yrs old but this is amezing work. i wish i can be an amezing writter like you. i see that you put your heart and soul in this writting piece i love it and you are getting 5 out of 5 stars from me. ♥♥♥☺☺☺ keep writting this is amezing.