Somebody's Daughter Poem by Practicing Poetess
Somebody's Daughter
Falling from a fire escape
As it gave way
Plummeting downward
Hurtling toward the sidewalk
Five stories below
She was somebody's daughter
In the wrong place at the wrong time
Near a protest in Tehran
Struck by a random bullet from a sniper
She fell to the street, bathed in her blood,
And died with one eye open.
She was somebody's daughter.
Bullied online, while teachers stood by
And did nothing
Repeatedly subjected to cyber-haters
They were cruel and relentless beyond belief
Pushed to the limit, she took her own life.
She was somebody's daughter.
Tattoed, sex-trafficked,
Stripped of her identity,
Made into a commodity,
Used and abused,
Degraded and hollow inside,
She was somebody's daughter.
Emaciated, starving toddler
During the famine in Sudan
Stumbles, collapses, and whimpers,
In the open bush,
Whilst a plump vulture waits expectantly nearby.
She was somebody's daughter.
The firstborn of many brethren
Offered His life on the cross
For her, so she might live
She gladly accepted His offer
And was born into God's loving family.
She became Somebody's Daughter.
I thought I was about to write a pretty little sonnet. This turned out to be ANYTHING BUT! Most of my poems rhyme; I don't usually employ free verse. And there's nothing pretty about this one- -it's visceral, and disturbing. It reads like the worst news headlines in our world today. It was a tough poem to write. The 6th stanza brings closure and hope into the midst of all this darkness.
This one is different and striking. The world is cruel and evil. My poem today, Images of Evil, is on that topic. I also close with hope but with a note of doubt also. At any rate you have penned a powerful poem.
Barry, the words powerful poem are a great compliment coming from you! At the risk of sounding sexist (and I hope I don't, because I don't mean to) , I felt like my poem sounded more like something written by a man, than something a woman would write. It is so atypical of what I normally do. But I've noticed also, that the more you write, the more you develop as a writer, and are willing to take on new things. Your writing styles may morph or vary. So, growth is a good thing, and to be desired, even if the writer is disturbed by something that they themself wrote! Thank you so much for your faithful comments and critiques. Why are we suddenly writing about evil? Must be something in the air! :)
A lot of suspense and curiosity created by Poet's Notes. And truly so. It is like a reportage on the cruelties meted out to the nameless and faceless daughters in different parts of the world everyday.(often reported in the Newspapers as non-issues) . It's a slur and slap on the face of the custodians of so called civilized societies. Thank you very much indeed.
Hello again, Rajnish! It is a shame that sometimes the world can be such a sad place. Some of the scenarios in my poem are accidents; some are pure tragedy. But all of these girls were born to someone. I wanted the poem to have a happy ending, with hope, to show that not all young women die senseless, harsh deaths. Thank you for reading such a difficult poem.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/26/2024 5:55:05 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Oh wow, a poet(ess) after my own heart! This is an excellent poem. Very disturbing, of course, but bringing humanity to news and statistics, at the same time ending with hope. The only real hope. Well done. For sure, I'm gonna read more of your work.
Laurie, Thank you so much for the high compliment! :)