There Has To Be a Child

 

I walk along

graffiti streaked T-walls

in Baghdad thinking…

there has to be a reprieve

for a heart that shuns

the hatred. 

there has to be

some crumbs of happiness

leftovers here somewhere.

some love,

some crackling

good-hearted laughter

left here somewhere

to subdue the barking

of the guns

and the stomping

of the boots.

the horrors of war

could not have seeped

into all the cracks

of every wall

and every soul.

a child somewhere

still remembers,

between every

gut wrenching

cry and cry,

how to smile.

 

but, look here!

you see boot prints

on doors kicked

into broken homes.

these rooms,

their walls are splattered red.

they contained the screams

of agonizing men

and yes! the laughter

of maniac terrorizing men.

it’s not the laughter I’m looking for.

it’s not the laughter I’m looking for.

within these T-walls

dividing the city

and garroting the life

out of it

we have achieved peace

and buried the peace

of mind and the sanity,

the innocence,

the laughter,

the love,

the tender smile.

there has to be

a child somewhere

still remembering,

between every

gut wrenching

cry and cry,

how to smile.

there has to be.

Reviews

[Anne Martin]

there has to be
a child somewhere
still remembering
between every
gut wrenching
cry and cry
how to smile

Even if you hadn't repeated this, it would have been a highlight for me. This is a walk on the darker side of the war for you. I usually get the sense from your poetry that life goes on in spite of the war, but in this one we are left searching for that sign of life, that child's smile amongst the murder. Excellent as always.

[Jet Lag]

heartbreaking.
love the repeating lines:
there has to be
it's not the laughter I'm looking for

consider placing the "there has to be" again before the ending.

[JC]

The forgotten victims of war, have a new voice. Children are amazingly resilent and their capacity to love and forgive, is immeasurable. The one child you seek, does exist and is waiting for that time, to smile again.

I was particularly moved by the following: "we have achieved peace and buried the peace of mind". It speaks to the fact that "peace" is a subjective state of being. The absence of punctation gives each paragrah a continous flow, and creates a sense of urgency

A stunning piece, truly, stunning.

JC

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

There must be a child! Or many - that remember how to smile - just stunning imagery from the horrors to the joys of childhood - may they please have one. Thank you. Exquisite.
Light,
Siddartha

[Emily B]

There has to be a child! With the child comes all hope, all faith, all life. Beautifully written.

[SM Davis]

OH God this is heartbreakingly perfect. It's no secret that you are an amazing writer. Your ability to take what is on paper and turn it into pure emotion for the reader is nothing short of extraordinary. Very very well done.

[Legion]

God, I hope so. Saddenly beautiful writing here. Good work. Your flow and word usage is excellent as well as the imagery. Bravo!

[Damien Dsoul]

there is so much tension in your voice, yearning and climatic in its deep sense of searching. I read this poem, and it pictures in my mind a lone individual trying to dig up some measure of meaning, some still remaining leftovers of love in a place that's ben torn asunder by war and strife. It is such a bold search you have taken with this poem, and what's more interesting is the fact that you as well carry the reader along with you in your search. Very poignant with deep meaning.

[TamiViolet]

Cabala, your work so touches my soul. Excellent contrast between the innocence
of a child and the violence and bloodshed. Imagery is spectacular. This will be
among my favs.
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