Susan Smiles

PICTURES ON THE WALL

Welcome to my home
Won't you please come in?
This place expresses part of me
Of everything I've been

Please, have a look around
See the pictures on the wall?
Each one tells a story
In fact, they tell it all

They all tell a story
Of a young man as he grew
All the experiences
That he ever knew

In this one he was very young
A child of one or two
The sad look started early
I'll explain it all to you

You see he learned of sadness
When he lost his twin
It left an empty feeling
Way down deep within

This one shows a child of four
All dazed and confused
Already he had learned
How it felt to be abused

An ironing cord, a piece of wood
It really didn't matter
This small child's life
Had already shattered

Oh, and look, here's another
A child of six or seven
Already wanting God to take him
So he could go to heaven

Too much pain, not enough love
With no hope here below
He had to look to God
Where else could he go?

Yes, this one is the saddest
Picture of them all
A child of ten molested
His father had his gall

Here he is at seventeen
With a look of shame
He thought for all that happened
It was him that was to blame

This pain was carried far too long
He felt he was no good
The anger, hate, tears and lies
Followed him into manhood

Then while he wasn't looking
Jesus came along
He heard Him in a church one day
Contained within a song

"Jesus loves me, this I know"
Were words that touched his heart
That was the beginning
Of his brand new start

Now Jesus does the healing
Of all the aches and pains
He sees the truth quite clearly
That he is not insane

I'm sorry for the sadness
Contained within this poem
It's just part of my release
As I make my brand new home

Parents love your children
That's all you need to do
So they won't show you pictures
That come back to haunt you!
Michael Connors