Sad child. (Photo credit: apdk)
A child will see
The lesser turned head
The more distant eye
The favour fall elsewhere
A child will know
In offhand remarks
Those words left unspoken
Indifferent silence
A child will feel
The ephemeral embrace
That speaks not of care
But impatient distraction
A child will remember
In the sinews of their heart
The lesser depth of smile
Or softness of words
A child will carry
Any churlish critique
And the paucity of praise
In the guise of response
All the while the child
Internally has bled
But knows that the cause
Is best left unsaid.
(c) Helen Valentina 2013, All Rights Reserved
helenvalentina 
aint that the truth.
adults are strange.
Adults are indeed strange sometimes! Thanks so much!! 🙂
so true and so sad. i work with young children every day and they are much more aware and have stronger feelings than many adults give them credit for.
Thank you so much, I’m pleased the poem rings true. 🙂
Reminds me of the famous Song ” when the children cry”
Thank you – I’m unfamiliar with the song so I will check it out! 🙂
Thank you for this
You’re welcome, thank you so much for commenting! 🙂
Children have perfect vision, indeed.
Indeed! 🙂
How talented you are.
The sadness of a child breaks my heart.
Thank you so much! 🙂 Yes, it is heartbreaking for a child to suffer.
This was poignant. Children see through all of our masks to the simple truths. And so often adults don’t even have a clue the damage that they are inflicting. Beautifully written 🙂
Thank you so much – yes, the early years are so delicate in terms of longer term self esteem. 🙂
Helena, so true.
Thanks so much!! 🙂
Having a 5 year old daughter I can attest to this! At times I swear she is psychic because she asks me questions about thoughts I have not expressed to anyone in words. Let me tell you its unnerving when someone asks very specific questions about your private inner most feelings. I remember when her grandfather had a heart attack it came unexpectedly and before we even got the call to inform us maybe a few minutes before she told me grandpa’s heart hurts, no one knew it was coming but she must have noticed something that are she really is psychic
Thank you for your comments! Perhaps she is psychic … I think a lot of people might be telepathic without knowing it. 🙂
Maybe that is a scary thought!
Yes, I suppose it is, LOL. 🙂
It is my head isn’t exactly G-rated lol
Children often internalise much more emotion than grown ups, as being small and weak they often fear expressing themselves. It happens so often even without any conscious attempt made by grown ups to repress the childs feelings. This poem picks up on this very well. Very well thought through poem.
Thank you very much, very much appreciated!!:)
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Thank you!! 🙂
Your wisdom resonates in your poetry, Helen.
Thank you, that is so very kind of you!! 🙂
Very nice to read 🙂
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
Oh, my word…..your wisdom speaks volumes here. I absolutely love this. Every parent should read it. I know it will make me think…..this is something that once read, you carry in the back of your mind for always…or at least you should.
Thank you so much …I feel really strongly about this topic…what happens in childhood is carried with us, in one form or another, throughout life. 🙂
Amen!!!!! I really mean it…..people need to read this in feel it in their very person. I am going to mention it often in passing to people I know.