“She was Six”

On By Mike U.In Poetry

“She was Six”
(c) 2022 by Michael L. Utley

she was six
and on the wrong side
of a tyrant’s bomb sights
her small broken body
no match for
the shells and the hell
that befell
her country
city
neighborhood
block
home
her blood the price
of freedom
she was six

she was six
and on the wrong corner
of the wrong intersection
at the wrong time
as gang-bangers
threw lead
and fled
as she bled
just a typical night
in a typical city
she was six

she was six
and in the wrong classroom
at the wrong school
as a true patriot
flexed his might
and exercised his 2A right
to murder school children
another day
in the USA
she was six

she was six
and the wrong color
at the wrong border
snatched from her parents
caged like an animal
lost in the system
as racist thugs
praise god and country
and build their wall
one sin at a time
she was six

she was six
and the wrong religion
in the wrong village
her captors didn’t care
she didn’t last long enough
to stain their conscience anyway
all in the name of god
she was six

she was six
and on the wrong side of town
hollow eyes and empty stomach
the manic cackle of inhumanity
the soundtrack of her life
bruised body and soul
this dark alleyway to hell
her only escape
she was six

we have lost our way

40 thoughts on ““She was Six””

    1. Thank you, Tammy Your words mean a lot to me. Honestly I was shaking the entire time I wrote this, and even for a while afterward. There’s so much I wanted to say but needed to keep it simple. It’s about Ukraine, and the US, and everywhere there’s violence and evil in the hearts of men. It’s such a sad condition we’re in as a species that we’re capable of acts such as these and then just wave them off and change the channel, you know? Thanks for such a nice comment. I appreciate it. And thanks for the encouragement as far as submitting it somewhere. I’ll keep it in mind. 🙂

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      1. I totally understand about you shaking, I used to be the same when sharing my work.
        Regardless you have to be courageous and let it out because the power is in the truth of it all.
        I figured this was motivated by the attack on Ukraine, but as I read, it took me on a journey through wars, home abuse, street gangs, everything I have personally experienced, you nailed it. Although I haven’t been in an actual war, there’s a war in these streets everyday. Thank you for creating this.

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    1. Thanks so much. Heart-breaking is exactly right. And horrors such as these are everywhere, not just in war-ravaged countries, which is why I included a few examples from my own country (USA). It’s a powerless feeling and I don’t even know if mere words help at all,. although it helps me personally to put these feelings into concrete form. I wish I could write away all the evil in this world…

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    1. Thanks, Bridgette. I remember my nieces and nephews when they were young, and I can’t imagine what it would have been like to see them victimized like what we see happening today. It’s rough. I appreciate your kind words.

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    1. Thank you. I don’t know if we’ll ever see the light again, at least not in the way some of us remember. Once innocence is lost, it’s lost forever, and after that it’s just a matter of picking up all the shards of what’s left and cutting our hands bloody in the process. I know that sounds cynical, but it’s hard to see that silver lining sometimes. I have hope for better things, but I don’t especially expect those things to come along. It’s a fraught time for all. I appreciate your supportive words so much. Thanks again. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Lamittan. So often the victims of man’s arrogance and hubris and sheer evil are the innocent youth, whose protection is our responsibility. But there are monsters among us in the guise of men, and they’re ravenous. It’s awful, and it’s everywhere. Heck, I’m an old man now, but even before I was born this horror existed. I’m reminded of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, where four young girls were killed. It was a racist attack by white supremacists. All I can do sometimes is shake my head in disbelief that we humans are capable of killing children. It’s beyond sad.

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    1. It really is, and I wish I had the words to make it go away. There was a piece on CNN about the rocket attack that killed a young girl and it was gut-wrenching. The doctor who tried to save her said, crying, “Show this to Putin!” You can’t un-see stuff like that. It’s monstrous. I had to say something. I hope we as a species aren’t beyond redemption. Thank you for reading and commenting, David. I appreciate it.

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    1. Thanks, Daphny. It’s such a difficult time in so many ways for so many people. Yet the children suffer disproportionately because of the sins of adults. Putin has no worries about how many children he kills. He’s just one of many evil people on this planet whose narcissism and greed and lust for power destroy the lives of the innocent. We can do so much better, and we must. Thanks for reading and commenting, Daphny. 🙂

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      1. You’re most welcome Mike! He’ll pay the price for sure and we all know the price of innocent children will be much more than one could bear. Here’s hoping for the best, we are together in this and we will get through it. 🤗

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    1. Thanks, Cindy. You’re right–none of this is fair. Sometimes I think we as humans are silly for even thinking in terms of justice and fairness, but I believe in ideals such as those and others. Without ideals, where (and who) would we be? We may not always live up to our ideals, but we’d better at least try, you know? Children depend upon us to make wise decisions to protect them from harm. We’ve failed way too many times on that account. The children depicted in this poem had no choice in the matter of their abuse and demise; the adults involved did, and they chose violence and abuse. I may be a dreamer and an idealist, but perhaps we need more dreamers and idealists in order to change our current path. Anyway, thanks for reading, Cindy. I appreciate it. 🙂

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      1. I couldn’t agree with you more Mike!

        “may be a dreamer and an idealist, but perhaps we need more dreamers and idealists in order to change our current path. “

        This is inexcusable! We need to do better and stop this madness!
        Hugs and happy Fri-Yay!!😎❤️💕

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    1. Thanks, Jeff. It’s painful, indeed. Some things you can’t un-see, you know? They burn themselves into your mind and stay there. I believe it’s important to speak out about such things, and I also believe it’s important to spread love, as you so eloquently do in your poetry. Really, only love is going to change things, and I hope we have enough of it in our hearts to see us through and lead us to a better tomorrow. Your kind words and support are very much appreciated. 🙂

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      1. You’re welcome, Mike. Always. I do know. I completely agree with you about self expression and speaking our truth, super important. I agree with you about love, and I hope so too. Thank you for the lovely words about my poetry. It’s always my pleasure. Always.😊

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  14. s.s.

    “the manic cackle of inhumanity
    the soundtrack of her life”….

    I’m torn. Your words evoke the helplessness I feel when the world forgets all that is human.
    It’s a brilliant piece. Thank you for writing

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    1. Thanks so much. It’s a hard world, for sure, and so many people (including way too many kids) slip through the cracks and fall prey to the worst of society. You’d think that here in the 21st century we’d have things figured out by now and would be living in a utopia…but human nature doesn’t seem to work that way, and we continue to repeat our mistakes over and over again and not much changes for the better. I had an extremely unhappy childhood, being raised in a severely dysfunctional home, so this topic holds deep meaning for me. We must do a better job protecting each other, especially vulnerable children who can’t protect themselves. I know it’s a brutal poem, and I appreciate your kind words so much. It means a lot to me. 🙂

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      1. s.s.

        I agree. We should’ve figured out a better way to a better world. What your poem brings out is the viciousness of power. How we use our power defines who we are and you’re right ..we haven’t learnt much about using that power to protect. Especially when it comes to children … 😔

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    1. Sometimes I think the answer to your question is “no.” We’ve driven ourselves off into the ditch way too many times. I mean, how can we expect to take care of our planet if we can’t even take care of our children? It’s so frustrating, and the sense of powerlessness is overwhelming. Hope and love are powerful, and it reminds me of the great deserts in my area, carved into mile-deep canyons over the eons by the constant caress of river water. Surely love can have such an impact on humanity, can’t it? Surely love can wash away our evil ways and cleanse us and create beauty and kindness in the harshness of mankind’s soul? I hope…

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      1. Your words give me hope too. Love can really work in magical ways. And sometimes its effects are felt instantly or after much time has passed. it depends upon the acceptance and understanding. 🙂

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