Nowhere to Turn
Black-hole pupils
swallow irises, blue,
terrify. Super-mom's cape
lies crumpled in a corner
no longer able to soothe,
save, protect;
her son's tone increasingly
belligerent. She fears the moment,
(it always comes) when calculated
rage shakes loose, consumes.
Hugs him closely as he kicks
and screams "I'll get my revenge".
Mental illness ravages her son.
Help might arrive if a crime he commits,
until then a 13 year old boy's family
has nowhere to turn.
by Margaret Bednar, December 16, 2012
This is for Imaginary Garden With Real Toad's, Sunday Mini-Challenge "Doll's Revisited".
I, along with most of you, are devastated with what happened in a Connecticut elementary school a few days ago. HERE. I am particularly moved by a father's response that he isn't angry at the killer. The killer practiced free will and chose evil, the father will choose love.
I paraphrased that, but this sentiment, uttered by a man who is grieving for his five year old daughter's murder is truly heroic. I was going to write a poem about this, but came across the following article. I think it needs to be read and circulated. My poem above isn't really my own as I borrowed a few lines from the author of the article I have linked below.
"I Am Adam Lanza's Mother".
24 comments:
I especially love your first three lines, but I found the whole piece to be very moving. It makes me think of a family trying to work through the difficulties of raising a child with conduct disorder---no easy task, and certainly a terrifying experience.
Since the tragedy in Connecticut, there has been a lot of talk about good and evil. One commentator even suggested that if the young man had been a person of faith the whole horrible thing would never have happened. I hate the implication that people of faith do no suffer from mental illness; it's untrue and serves no one.
Enough of my little rant. This is a powerful poem about every mother's nightmare.
Margaret, just when I begin to think I've absorbed the unspeakable tragedy, another wave of shock and sadness overwhelms me.
If only, if only ...
That article is chilling. Absolutely chilling.
Margaret, thank you for posting that article. I tried to leave a comment there, as I have considerable knowledge on that topic, but it made it too complicated to post, and I finally gave up.
The sad truth is that a lot of the helps and supports that families like this used to have, have been cut and families are dealing with situations that paid trained professionals find difficult. Plus they love their children, which makes it all the more heartbreaking.
The system doesnt click in till crimes are committed, and jail is no place for a mentally ill person. Only bad things can come from that.
Mental illness is the conversation we need to be having. Thanks for bringing this matter to our attention. It needs to be part of the discussion as we move forward.
That stupid, ignorant comment that the young man needed faith is so unchristian. I don't think we know anything about him yet and the killer must have been mentally ill. Plus, so much terror is done in the name of "faith". Yes, don't get me started as well.
Hugs
Yes. This is one of the first issues I hope Obama addresses. The ER's are not an appropriate place for them either and that is where many of them sit for days as no one will take them. Truly sad
I can't get the sinking feeling out of my gut
Did you read the attached article at the bottom? It will break your heart
I was thinking of writing using one of the pics, the naked mohter to be as Adam Lanza's mom but I am emotionally wrecked. This article is very timely and I thank you for sharing them.
I am going to post one for OLN - light and funny for a change ~
Oh, this was so raw and scary and haunting!
I don't see the attached article...I'll look again. I agree, so many fall under the cracks, but Adam's father had money. He worked at GE... Adam and his Mom lived in a house that was valued over a million dollars. There was money for his to seek help?! I wonder what the mental age of Adam was? Was he jealous of his Mother's students?!
The article is chilling and I agree-there needs to be help!
I tread that article earlier and was pleased/startled to hear her speak again through your poetry. Well done. Making it public again and a gain may be the only chance for intervention she will get!
Beyond moved at your beautiful write.......
This article gives me chills to the bone. I can see how the doll inspired you to write further on a topic which has punctured everyone's consciousness this weekend. Many people world-wide suffer from mental illness, but not all descend to acts of pure evil. One question I have after reading this article is what kind of games the mother allowed her special needs son to play. There are few games which do not endorse violence in one form or another. Who knows what effect they may have on a troubled mind?
Excellent question !
My heart is still so broken, Margaret, I don't even know what to say! I had read this letter earlier today on FB and know there are parents everywhere who are dealing with enormous pain and burden re their "challenged" children. God have mercy! God have mercy!
This is so painful. We must do something to help those who suffer from mental illness and those who care for them. I worked for years with youth. Once I was attacked by a young man. He was choking me and thankfully I was freed before he could do any harm. He had a horrible home life and I became the object of his anger against his mother.
The poem I wrote from the inspiration of Rachel Pentergrass was featured in today's Creative Nexus online newspaper. I went back and included the information about how the dolls came about. I thought you might like to have the link.
http://paper.li/NWCreativeUnion/1332646649
i did read "I am Adam Lanza's Mother" and i just can't comment right now. i'm sorry.
it certainly seems getting help for those with mental health issues would be far more effective than new gun control laws, as what few are on the books certainly don't work.
Myheartlovesongs... Honestly I think it must be a multi-layered response. As far as guns, I feel banning certain type of guns will only work if the current owners are forced to turn them in as well! And severe jail time and punishment for those who break the laws...
The one thing that keeps me from really feeling for the mother is the fact that she has a sometimes uncontrollably violent child who is not only surrounded by guns, but she actually teaches him how to use them. And we wonder "How could this happen?"
This is an amazing poem. I have thought a lot about this family and this mother. My heart breaks for anyone is that situation looking for help and of course for the victims and their families as well. I am for very strong gun control laws -- for making it illegal to own them and that would mean turning them in. It is a sad world where shooting is a sport.
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