The Best Poetry by HCYR Children
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Poems from the Children of Hill Country Youth Ranch Written during the years 1990 — 2005 Within each child lies a miracle waiting to emerge . Because of histories of deprivation and abuse, many of our children have never had the opportunity to receive these miracles. So, when each child comes to us it is our prayer that we will be able to help that child find expression, discover gifts and talents . and slowly bloom into the person that God meant him or her to be. The works in this collection have been written by children living at HCYR between 1990 and 2005. Hill Country Youth Ranch A not for profit home for Neglected and abused children Of all ages Providing Christian guidance Vocational training Personal enrichment Counseling services Sports, horsemanship training Nature awareness Theater and graphic arts And so much more For those who need it most. PO Box 67 Ingram, Texas 78035 Phone 830-367-2131 Fax 830-367-6108 Website: www.youth-ranch.org, E-mail: [email protected] All poetry is copyrighted. Chris age 15 GRANDPA ’ S HANDS A TEEN ’ S PRAYER Grandpa ’ s hands Please Lord, were big and strong... Give me the strength To go through life.. They punished me When I did something wrong. Lord, please help me As I travel down Grandpa was big and tall... These paths I have chosen. And a few times, Let all fears be shed Because of him, From the minds of my fellow man. I kissed a wall. Lord, I ask that You also He was so close, Relieve my fears... and dear to me... Fears that have been placed there HIS LOVE WAS SO BLINDING By others. THAT I DIDN ’ T WANT TO SEE... Give us Lord, He told me that what it did was okay... Your guidance and protection Then he went on and on As we face troubled times. day after day. And watch over us, Lord I loved him so much As we grow up I didn ’ t want to tell... To be part of Your Kingdom, If I did, he said And then finally, I would go to hell. Your angels. On the day he died, Until the day That I can be safe I just In the bosom of Your love, cried and cried and cried. Watch out for me, and my fellow man . Nine years ago to the day was when he took his love away. THE TRUTH After his death I thought my mother would always I didn ’ t know what to do... Be there for me Because he was still I loved her so much that I couldn ’ t see… the greatest man I ever knew. THE TRUTH The truth was that she didn ’ t want me That she never loved me She just let me...be. 1 Chris age 15 IN THE END, IT WILL BE HIM WHO WINS AN END TO RUNNING The world I ’ m growing up in-it ’ s becoming a living hell. I can only recall Homicide, hate, smack, crack, coke, Only a few times of happiness This is today ’ s world; not some kind of joke. when I was home. IN THE END, IT WILL BE HIM WHO WINS It wasn ’ t enough. Bombs, guns, chemical weapons all made to destroy and kill I started to roam... All give people false power- and now they think they will I ran and ran...for days...and days... Win . No matter what or who gets in their way... Every once in awhile, I would stop and pray. BUT IN THE END IT WILL BE HIM WHO WINS I would get to where I thought I wanted to be, But it wasn ’ t what I wanted, No matter what you do, if you ’ re bad or if you ’ re good, There was...... only............ me. You will be tried by God And I ’ ll tell you again . He will win... I stayed here and there.. And here and there... Murder and lying are getting way way out of hand. People killing each other over money words and land. I wanted to keep on running... One thinks he ’ s the winner when the other is dead... But to WHO?... To WHERE? THINK AGAIN . I finally came to the Ranch IN THE END IT WILL BE HIM WHO WINS. Which I love so much... Parents killing kids, committing unspeakable deeds... I now have love, friends and family, When the police say in desperation that there are no leads, A loving touch. They may think they have won, but God knows all sins AND IN THE END IT WILL BE HIM WHO WINS. YES, IT WILL BE HIM WHO WINS... NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, BAD OR GOOD, Believe in Him YOU WILL BE TRIED BY HIM, Believe in Him, and what He has done, AND HE WILL WIN! That He gave His only Son. IF YOU WANT TO WIN TOO YOU KNOW . HE IS THE WIND, THE RAIN, THE TREES... YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ’ LL HAVE TO DO AND HE LOVES ME! 2 Veronica age 14 SOMETIMES, SOMETHING MY MOTHER ’ S EYES Sometimes... My mother ’ s eyes never changed- SOMETHING... Not when she Gets in me... Was looking I GET SO MAD At me. LIKE I ’ M ON FIRE LIKE I ’ M IN HELL Her eyes But Were so full of hate- Then MEAN I hurt CRUEL And I ’ m too afraid RED To tell anyone Like a devil. How I feel. She looked so beautiful when she smiled- I wanted so bad For her to smile At me. FORGIVE ME Sometimes I wanted her to look at me When I get mad With love- And feel like running away- To care for me... I just tell myself to STOP. But her eyes were so full of hate... I wish I could do that all the time. But sometimes I ’ M GLAD I HAVE MY FATHER ’ S EYES. When I get really mad And feel like running away I don ’ t even tell myself to stop. I have to ask God to forgive me. 3 Veronica age 14 A BIRD I want to be a bird Cause birds can fly up in the sky Where they don ’ t have to worry. THE BOX They don ’ t have to worry ‘ bout nuthin ’ - It ’ s like I have a little box And if they have babies Inside me... They just When something goes wrong Take care of them... I save it- A bird would never give her baby away Put it in the box... Like my mama did. Everything that goes wrong Goes into the box. I wonder if I save it... You could fly Save it... save it. High enough To see Then something goes wrong And I try to save it God... But there ’ s no room anymore... But I stuff it in anyhow- CRYING Then I lock the box...lock it. Everyone cries. BUT IT POPS OPEN ANYHOW Sometimes it is good to cry. POPS OPEN EVERYTHING GOES OUT I CRY ALOT. EVERYWHERE Sometimes I cry for a day, IN PIECES And that is probably good INTO THE AIR Because the crying ON EVERYTHING Takes away all the ANGER That I feel inside. Then I feel better again. I could make a river with my tears... But not really. I look in the water And the river lets me see myself... Lets me look at All the feelings I hold inside. 4 Veronica age 14 WHY PEOPLE HIT CHILDREN RESPECT I think People hit children Many people Because they need help themselves... Do not respect me And kids get in their way. For who I am. They pick on me and make fun of me; The children try to help... That makes me sad. Children try and try and try It hurts so bad, to be good and make them happy... I just want to die. But nobody notices-nobody I would never want anyone else wants their help. To feel this way. I feel sad. What is respect? It is not cussing in front of others I wish everybody could learn to love. Even if you are very angry... It is listening Even when you don ’ t agree with someone. GANGS Even if you don ’ t like someone, You should still listen to them, anyhow Jesus wants people Because that To love each other Is respect. Not hate each other Not kill each other in gangs. You should respect others If you God loves you. Want to be He wants everyone Respected, too. To have a chance to grow To reach for your goal. The goal he has made for just you. He is right there beside you, So please get to know him. 5 Veronica I REMEMBER I ’ M TRAPPED I remember thinking I ’M TRAPPED “ M ama ’ s been drinking AND NOBODY KNOWS IT . I hope she BUT ME.... won ’ t see CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME? me ” . I ’ M TRAPPED IN CHAINS I remember hiding AND NOBODY HAS THE KEY behind the door NOBODY wishing she CAN REACH IT. wouldn ’ t hit me anymore. CAN SOMEBODY REACH OUT AND GET THE KEY? Holding my breath I HAVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS IN THERE trying to be quiet I WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THEM! when she was in the room . “ M aybe she ’ ll fall asleep . Still nobody grabs it... Maybe . soon ” . Why does this have to happen to me. SOMETIMES I GET SCARED JUST PLEASE SOMEONE REACH OUT Sometimes I get scared- AND GRAB THE KEY!!! Scared I might have to leave here For being bad.