Sunrise at Night

Sunrise at Night

A Poem by Mary Helda
"

street children

"
His ribs wailed, poking through his pellucid skin 
Like shards of glass begotten by bondage 
The street was his fate
Every day, he sat under the blistering scorching sun 
While the heat became his confidante 

No sweat. How could it emanate? 
When he was but a dying rose, a walking disease 
The gut-wrenching stench of his war’s truculence
Cutting through his little nostrils 
He knew no other fragrance 

Saliva tasted so heavenly against his cracked lips 
He wined and dined with flies and rubbish 
Yet he could afford a ghost of a smile 
Even when his eyes were the epitome of a grave… 
So hollow, so lost, No tears, no light---

Happiness tripped over his sadness and fell
Humanity lay hidden behind his eight years 
But when the night came, silence spread 
The stars glittered and bore comfort into him 
In the night he found home.

© 2017 Mary Helda


Author's Note

Mary Helda
Thousands of children are suffering as a result of wars especially in Africa..with no love,no food,no parents...

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Featured Review

Mary I've only just got to this in my RR. Wow! Very powerful. Very pictorial. Very moving.

As always I have suggestions and comments
- cuting - I think you probably mean cutting
- personally I think it would read better and finish more powerfully if you deleted the last line; maybe even add a couple of extra 'came' lines, such as peace, freedom, etc. These would add to the rhythm of the closing stanza, whereas the one line finish, to me, seemed too obvious and unnecessary and sort of broke the spell.

Back to the poem; there are some fabulous lines, for example
- happiness tripped over his sadness and fell
- he wined and dined with flies ...

This is very, very powerful writing, Mary.

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

7 Years Ago

i can not believe i have actually just seen this right now after all this while. i apologize. thank .. read more



Reviews

very true, very sad. You use some unusual words which seem to echo the little boy's exclusion. The pain is palatable. ( By the way when you say 'winned and dinned' do you mean 'wined and dined'?)

Posted 8 Years Ago


Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

yes..i meant "wined and dined"...i am going to change that...thank you so much for your kind words
So Powerful. Fantastic title!
Set me up with expectation of warmth between lovers.
Froze me down with a horrible reality about children.
Love the use of marasmus.
All so Powerful. Loved it.
Thank you

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Thank you so much..i am glad you loved it
I loooooooove this!! It's like the LOST boys of SUDAN! *GASP* D: liiiike it loooove it. *hearts*

Posted 8 Years Ago


Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Awwwww..*giggles* thank you.:-):-)
I guess you've heard of the 'refugee crisis' that's been going on for the last few months in Europe. Europian governments treat these refugees as if they're numbers on a page, inferior beings, but they're not, they're humans.. We have money for expensive food, high-end mobile devices, big houses, sports cars.. And what can the refugees afford? Nothing. Everything has been taken from them - their money, their family, their friends, their lives.. Just because of some stupid war. Because of the constant fighting, the constant killing of innocent people in their own country. We should be ashamed by this. I am ashamed by this. Killing thousands, if not millions of innocent people. Who do these people think they are?

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

I dont know sweetie..but i know that they are twisted people...wish they could be stopped
Guess our earth is not so rosy after all. I like this...the strong emotions, the words;
"The stars came
In the night,he found home."
You write great, with exceptional meanings.:)

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Thank you my dear:-)
Krizito

8 Years Ago

Eternally my pleasure..
Beautiful, haunting, gut wrenching... The poem unfolds and paints a vivid picture. It makes the reader re-evaluate their own minor problems in comparison.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Thank you so much...:-)
I did three trips to Africa in the nineties on water, food and medicine missions. Your poem told the truth.
"But when the night came,
Silence came
Comfort came
The stars came
In the night,he found home."
This is the reason I dislike the USA politicians. 1.2 trillion for war and enough to show small concern for the poor and the homeless. A powerful poem. Needed to be read by more people.
Coyote

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

i hope you get a leader like that..Donald Trump is just not the right leader for America...only God .. read more
Coyote Poetry

8 Years Ago

I dislike Hilary but I would vote for her over Trump.
Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Yes..she is better than Trump
The deaths are a cruel,meaningless result of mankind's inability to come together. A very sad, very emotional piece of reality. A powerful message that needs to be heard.


bil
.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Thank you so much...i really do appreciate it:-)
Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

i hope its heard
Heartbreaking. I have tried to make as many people aware as I can.
Your poems wields the power of your conviction. So excellent.
"If you cannot feed the whole world, feed on child" Mother Teresa

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

You are right about that..thank you:-)
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V
This writing differs from what I have read by you so far, but it's well written. Strong images, expressions makes one thoughtful and sad. The last stanza as well as your very last line create a beautiful, comforting (but still sad) twist.

Posted 8 Years Ago


Mary Helda

8 Years Ago

Thank you:-)

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919 Views
25 Reviews
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Shelved in 1 Library
Added on January 27, 2016
Last Updated on January 31, 2017

Author

Mary Helda
Mary Helda

Kampala, Christian, Uganda



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