SECOND CHANCES

This poem decribes the anguish of the mother of a rape victim.... It also highlights some of the gross inadequacies of our current juvenile justice laws

You say ‘give him a second chance’

For he is not yet eighteen

And must be allowed to live life on his terms once again

When someday he becomes an adult…

 

If you are truly just and kind

Do ensure a ‘second chance’ for my girl also

My girl who is very sad and quiet

Ever since the day he raped her

 

Did you forget she is also a small child

Who is devastated at the moment

Her immature unformed mind

Trying to cope with such complexity

 

Her body grappling with pain

Her smooth skin bearing scars

Her eyes reflecting pain and confusion

the haunting memory of  that horrifying act

 

 

My empathic girl who danced in the rain

Yet worried if it would douse the coal embers

And spoil the meagre business

Of the girl who roasts corn on the footpath

 

My loving and expressive child

Who leapt up higher than a puppy

Into our waiting arms when we returned home

To receive and give embraces

 

The caring friend who made her tiffin

According to what her friends like to eat

The loving sister who fought fiercely

To defend her brother when he got scolded

 

Now she has lost that energy, that spark

You who are experts on children

Think and tell me why I use past tense

 for someone right in front of my eyes

 

Our teachers taught us right and wrong

Wrongdoers were punished; some expelled

Wise and knowing, they never accepted cruelty

They saw no reason to ever try and justify it

 

 

Take a break from guarding his ‘rights’

Remember you are a mother too

Look beyond the brave face I put on

Right into a mother’s broken heart

 

Why should I sacrifice my daughter’s happiness

At the altar of his growing up years?

Like you have dreams for your children

I too had a different one for my girl

 

Look into your own daughter’s eyes

And make a reassuring pledge to her

That you can and will protect her; but only

From those more than eighteen years old

 

 

 

You say ‘give him a second chance’

For he is not yet eighteen

And must be allowed to live life on his terms once again

When someday he becomes an adult…

 

If you are truly just and kind

Do ensure a ‘second chance’ for my girl also

My girl who is very sad and quiet

Ever since the day he raped her

 

Did you forget she is also a small child

Who is devastated at the moment

Her immature unformed mind

Trying to cope with such complexity

 

Her body grappling with pain

Her smooth skin bearing scars

Her eyes reflecting pain and confusion

the haunting memory of  that horrifying act

 

 

My empathic girl who danced in the rain

Yet worried if it would douse the coal embers

And spoil the meagre business

Of the girl who roasts corn on the footpath

 

My loving and expressive child

Who leapt up higher than a puppy

Into our waiting arms when we returned home

To receive and give embraces

 

The caring friend who made her tiffin

According to what her friends like to eat

The loving sister who fought fiercely

To defend her brother when he got scolded

 

Now she has lost that energy, that spark

You who are experts on children

Think and tell me why I use past tense

 for someone right in front of my eyes

 

Our teachers taught us right and wrong

Wrongdoers were punished; some expelled

Wise and knowing, they never accepted cruelty

They saw no reason to ever try and justify it

 

 

Take a break from guarding his ‘rights’

Remember you are a mother too

Look beyond the brave face I put on

Right into a mother’s broken heart

 

Why should I sacrifice my daughter’s happiness

At the altar of his growing up years?

Like you have dreams for your children

I too had a different one for my girl

 

Look into your own daughter’s eyes

And make a reassuring pledge to her

That you can and will protect her; but only

From those more than eighteen years old

 

 

 

You say ‘give him a second chance’

For he is not yet eighteen

And must be allowed to live life on his terms once again

When someday he becomes an adult…

 

If you are truly just and kind

Do ensure a ‘second chance’ for my girl also

My girl who is very sad and quiet

Ever since the day he raped her

 

Did you forget she is also a small child

Who is devastated at the moment

Her immature unformed mind

Trying to cope with such complexity

 

Her body grappling with pain

Her smooth skin bearing scars

Her eyes reflecting pain and confusion

the haunting memory of  that horrifying act

 

 

My empathic girl who danced in the rain

Yet worried if it would douse the coal embers

And spoil the meagre business

Of the girl who roasts corn on the footpath

 

My loving and expressive child

Who leapt up higher than a puppy

Into our waiting arms when we returned home

To receive and give embraces

 

The caring friend who made her tiffin

According to what her friends like to eat

The loving sister who fought fiercely

To defend her brother when he got scolded

 

Now she has lost that energy, that spark

You who are experts on children

Think and tell me why I use past tense

 for someone right in front of my eyes

 

Our teachers taught us right and wrong

Wrongdoers were punished; some expelled

Wise and knowing, they never accepted cruelty

They saw no reason to ever try and justify it

 

 

Take a break from guarding his ‘rights’

Remember you are a mother too

Look beyond the brave face I put on

Right into a mother’s broken heart

 

Why should I sacrifice my daughter’s happiness

At the altar of his growing up years?

Like you have dreams for your children

I too had a different one for my girl

 

Look into your own daughter’s eyes

And make a reassuring pledge to her

That you can and will protect her; but only

From those more than eighteen years old

 

 

 

You say ‘give him a second chance’

For he is not yet eighteen

And must be allowed to live life on his terms once again

When someday he becomes an adult…

 

If you are truly just and kind

Do ensure a ‘second chance’ for my girl also

My girl who is very sad and quiet

Ever since the day he raped her

 

Did you forget she is also a small child

Who is devastated at the moment

Her immature unformed mind

Trying to cope with such complexity

 

Her body grappling with pain

Her smooth skin bearing scars

Her eyes reflecting pain and confusion

the haunting memory of  that horrifying act

 

 

My empathic girl who danced in the rain

Yet worried if it would douse the coal embers

And spoil the meagre business

Of the girl who roasts corn on the footpath

 

My loving and expressive child

Who leapt up higher than a puppy

Into our waiting arms when we returned home

To receive and give embraces

 

The caring friend who made her tiffin

According to what her friends like to eat

The loving sister who fought fiercely

To defend her brother when he got scolded

 

Now she has lost that energy, that spark

You who are experts on children

Think and tell me why I use past tense

 for someone right in front of my eyes

 

Our teachers taught us right and wrong

Wrongdoers were punished; some expelled

Wise and knowing, they never accepted cruelty

They saw no reason to ever try and justify it

 

 

Take a break from guarding his ‘rights’

Remember you are a mother too

Look beyond the brave face I put on

Right into a mother’s broken heart

 

Why should I sacrifice my daughter’s happiness

At the altar of his growing up years?

Like you have dreams for your children

I too had a different one for my girl

 

Look into your own daughter’s eyes

And make a reassuring pledge to her

That you can and will protect her; but only

From those more than eighteen years old