I can carry my own inner child
I can protect and reassure
and love her
but I cannot carry yours as well
you need to heal your own child
you left her alone, crying
into the emptiness, waiting
to be heard, to be held in love
you erected barriers
to keep you both safe
but these kept everyone
at a distance
and now, no matter how much
attention she is given
she will not be
silenced
you are a fortress
harbouring a
crying child
© Claire Griffin 2016
And with this, in those last three line, I finally formed a metaphor to describe and explain the behaviour of someone once near to me. Moving past my own hurt and anger, I found something like understanding, almost compassion. But the fourth line holds true – I cannot hold someone else’s pain. I am not responsible for it, and I do not have the answers.
invisible necessity 
Excellent poem Claire, and also excellent life observations 🙂 Thanks for sharing
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Beautiful. Everyone makes their own choices, regardless of their state of mind.
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i knew you’d understand 🙂
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Your poetry has such depth. I appreciate your short explanations as well. The last three lines rumble the ground I stand on, powerful image. Thank you.
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Thank you so much 🙂 I really appreciate your comments.
Those last three lines came very quickly – and for me they powerfully captured the sense of someone I hadn’t really understood til now.
I just felt some of those recent pieces needed a little extra information – so it’s good to know you appreciated them 🙂
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Poetry is such a powerful and transformational medium. Yours is impactful because of your introspective gift. I truly appreciate that.
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And I’m starting to read a few of yours – but it’s late here so I will come back to them tomorrow.
So good to have connected with you 🙂
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Yes! You and I seem to be in a similar place. Your poems comfort and validate. I am open to critiques as well, always trying to improve. Thank you!
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Thank you “comfort and validate” – I couldn’t imagine anything better 😌
Looking forward to talking with you xx
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