Lavender

Feb 25, 2024 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Children of the Homeland

When silver streaks storm the sky,
and gray smoke fills their homeland,
I wonder what children are told
to help them understand.

When parents try to save children's lives
while terrorized on their homeland,
I wonder what children are told
to help them understand.

When there is no bread, no water,
no nourishment in their homeland,
I wonder what children are told
to help them understand.

When no medicine or aid can reach them
when injured or dying in their homeland,
I wonder what the watching world can say
to help them understand.

My homeland is my cherished place.
I know no other sacred, holy space.
If told to flee my home, my land,
nothing said would make me understand.

About This Poem

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: United States

Favorite Poets: I tend to read Ted Kooser, Jim Harrison, Billy Collins, Paul Simon, Robert Frost. I like minimalist poetry, and poems reflecting on nature and Mother Earth.

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Comments

Lavender

1 year 4 months ago

Hello, Mark,

I appreciate your very generous comments. I can see places that I'd like to tidy up a bit to let the message flow smoother, but I'm grateful that it spoke to you. So many areas of the world, past and present, know the terror all too well.
Thank you, again, for reading and sharing your thoughts.
L

Candlewitch

1 year 4 months ago

Dear Lavender,

Your poem is remarkable! You capture the fragility of the suddenly displaced conditions and the helplessness...

*ever eddy
*hugs, Cat

You have written a horror poem here, to put all of mine to shame!
e.s.

Lavender

1 year 4 months ago

Hello, Cat and Eddy,

This is offered as a prayer or meditation. I cannot imagine the feeling of such terror, or the need to flee one's home.
Thank you for reading. I am always grateful for your thoughts!
L

Lavender

1 year 4 months ago

Hello, Mark,

Heart wrenching...and yes, unimaginable.
L

Alaethia D

1 year 4 months ago

Well...

this one made me cry. The sorrow and pain of children in the countries around the world currently at war has been a cloud over my heart for a very long time. You gave that cloud a chance to rain, and everything aches a little less because of it. Thank you for writing and sharing this poem. The message it gives is so needed. I especially love the sympathy perspective expressed by the final stanza: "nothing said would make me understand."

Lavender

1 year 4 months ago

Hello, Alaethia,

To have to flee your beloved homeland out of fear for your life and the lives of your loved ones is something I cannot understand - a heartbreaking, unthinkable torment. I appreciate your thoughts with this.
Thank you!
L

William Lynn

1 year 4 months ago

Hello Lavender.

Thank you for this poem. It is a set of questions everybody should ask of themselves as they try to picture themselves in such an impossible situation. I can't begin to imagine having to try to make a child understand and I suspect it would be impossible.

Personally, I think this is one of your best poems. Thanks again! - Will

Lavender

1 year 4 months ago

Hello, Will,

As we see the faces of those in war areas, it is hard to imagine what is really happening, and why. A heartbreaking thought for most of us, a fearful and horrific reality for those whose homelands are war zones.
Thank you for reading. Much appreciated!
L