The New What’s Going On blog is prompting about “Being Human”. My take on this theme has already been written about in an old post of mine on this blog and you may read it if you are interested here. This present post is looking at the alarming surge of childhood violence that is sweeping the world at the moment. It is a terrible thing to see young children and teenagers being robbed of there normal carefree, growing up phase and being plunged into a violent adult world of crime, drugs, bullying, sex offences and even death.
My poem here references two biblical passages: “O Absalom, my son, my son!” is a quote from 2 Samuel 18:33, which is King David's anguished lament upon hearing of his son Absalom's death. The second is the passage from Judges 11:35 “Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low…”, describing Jephthah's distress upon seeing his daughter. She was the first to come out of his house after his victory. Jephthah tore his clothes and expressed despair, realising his vow to sacrifice the first living thing from his house meant his only daughter…
Kids
Kids should play, and learn and grow —
Kids should be fed, and loved; and know
The future can be theirs to own,
If they stay kids until they’ve grown.
No guns, no force, no knives for kids
Nothing grown-up their age forbids;
Kids should be schooled and educated
Kids should be nurtured and not hated.
“O my son Absalom, my son,
My son Absalom!
Would I had died instead of you,
O Absalom, my son, my son!”
No stolen cars, no gangs, no chases
No dope, no midnight motor races!
Kids should be kids, and read and think
No drugs, no cigarettes, no drink…
Kids are to play with dolls, with toys
Kids beat their drums with joyful noise;
Not kill and maim and mindlessly attack
Not rape, not abuse, not fiercely wrack.
“Alas, my daughter!
You have brought me very low!
I have opened my mouth to the Lord,
and I cannot take back my vow…”
What world have we all made for kids?
The families, the schools that hit the skids?
Everyone’s guilty of childhood’s end!
Is it too late now our world to mend?
The poem is once again set to music, and you can find all my music in my “Otidorchestre” channel or listen to it on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer, Flo, Pandora, and other music sharing sites.
Wow! What world, indeed! It may be that a golden age of childhood has passed, one with no child labor and with lots of outdoors to play in with neighbors who watch in kindness . . . . Going to listen to your song.
ReplyDeleteVery moving.
DeleteThank you, Susan!
DeleteWhat world have we all made for kids ? An unsafe ,confusing, war torn, unwholesome one. Is it too late now our world to mend? It will take a miracle to mend.I suppose if one believes in miracles , the power of prayer and Divine intervention anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteThought provoking poem.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this poem, I thought of my childhood in a small town in the 1950's, which was very much as you write childhood should be. Mind you, the adults in my world struggled with alcoholism, which is no picnic for kids. But the world itself felt safe, and sunny, and peaceful. And my grandparents were my safe haven. They knew what kids needed. I often wonder what childhood memories today's kids will have, in this dissonant world. I hope it still feels hopeful to them, for as long as possible. But for so many millions, I know it does not.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is written so well!
ReplyDeleteYou are right on with this poem! What, oh what, have we done to childhood? Childhood today is so much different than when 'we' were kids. I never worried about guns, knives, guns, cigarettes. I remember writing a term paper in high school on drugs (heroine) in big cities. Little did I know that, in time, drugs would hit even small towns. When I was in college, I knew NO ONE who used marijuana. Innocent times. Wonderful times. What has happened in all these years? Thank you for this strong poem.
ReplyDeleteKids grow up too soon now, they often have to care for themselves as we did in our teens or later. Later, early twenties, I was bad of sorts. Generally not criminal bad, some did. They like stealing Oldsmobile hub caps for their cars, breaking the window of the Judge"s garage. Two did end up in prison, armed robbery. There was more.
ReplyDeleteKids grow up way too soon. They need time to be kids, to play, to run with imagination.
ReplyDeleteNick, I really enjoyed reading this. Kids are pressured into "growing up" too fast. No star gazing, little time for books when there is a smart phone at the ready. And who is at the helm while this is happening? Their parents. It takes sooooo much effort to raise kids when societal pressures are heavy. I am 68 at quite glad that I raised Luka in the 90s. All I had to worry about was that they watched too much anime.
ReplyDeleteIt's very difficult to raise a child in an unkind world, especially in war zones, these days. A lot depends on the elders and parents too. I feel parents should set good examples first. "Is it too late now our world to mend?"....A very pertinent question.
ReplyDelete