Rick Belden, with a haunting poem of abuse, the ramifications, and how to move forward
secret children
a desert
a wasteland
cold.
something terrible
thousands and thousands of crude wooden crosses
the skeleton of a child nailed to each and every one
close your eyes and imagine this
imagine your own child in this place
imagine yourself.
winter winds whip the bones of these children
rib cages frozen in fear decades ago rattle but
keep their secrets still.
between the bones
there is ice
inside the ice
there is fire
within the fire
there is a secret
the secret that keeps them here.
each child was brought here by an adult
a trusted friend
brought here
exploited
split open
left here
left to hang in this bitter wind and commune with ghosts.
the child never had a choice.
these children have families that love them dearly
blind families that will see no evil
deaf families that will hear no evil
dumb families that will speak no evil.
families that cannot believe
a child’s body knows the difference between
fantasy and reality
… are you sure you’re not making this up?
families that cannot believe
their beautiful children could have been
taken away
… but you were such a happy child!
families that cannot believe
this could ever happen to
their own children
… not in this family!
families that cannot believe
the words sexually abused could ever describe
their own children
… no secrets in this family, by god!
it is not too late for these children
they await resurrection and salvation
they ache to be healed
but cannot do it alone
fathers mothers brothers and sisters
lovers spouses families and friends
they need you.
take them down from these crosses
trust them
welcome them into your heart
love them
hold them close and warm their coldest places
hear them
feel their fire and honor it
believe them.
one secret at a time
one child at a time
believe them.
♦◊♦
Rick Belden is the author of Iron Man Family Outing: Poems about Transition into a More Conscious Manhood. His book is widely used in the United States and internationally by therapists, counselors, and men’s groups as an aid in the exploration of masculine psychology and men’s issues, and as a resource for men who grew up in dysfunctional, abusive, or neglectful family systems. His second book, Scapegoat’s Cross: Poems about Finding and Reclaiming the Lost Man Within, is currently awaiting publication. He lives in Austin, Texas.
More information, including excerpts from Rick’s books, is available at his website. His first book, “Iron Man Family Outing,” is availablehere.
About Rick Belden
Vocalyze
This is a superb poem, worthy of any award,
Not only is it well written, but it hits straight at the heart of the pain abuse causes and how the sweet gentle simple things can help the abused recover.
Thank you Rick for everything you write, and all your work.
You have a gift of expressing so much – so effectively!
Thanks!
I am thankful – that my childhood had relative peace!
Rick – what a powerful poem! Thanks so much for sharing this and all the great work you do raising awareness about men’s issues, including men as survivors of sexual abuse. Best to you.
Well written, and spoken, Rick. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thanks for sharing this poem. Rick has such a powerful voice for sharing about abuse.