Foster Child

Our backs against the wall,

Forever, so it seems.

It’s always been this way.

We wish it were a dream.

 

Branded from the start,

Labeled child delinquents.

Viewed as all the same,

Regardless of our descents.

 

We each have our own story,

Of our lives and history.

But no-one seems to care,

About our pain or misery.

 

We’re just placed in foster homes,

Or in state facilities.

Because we have no family,

And we can’t live in the street.

 

Some of us are hardcore,

Made that way from sheer neglect.

Others are drug abusers,

And called society rejects.

 

Please try to remember,

That we still are only kids.

We can’t help that we were thrown out,

Or abused by those amid.

 

We did the best we could,

In raising our own selves.

Without an education,

Or a place to dwell.

 

It’s hard for us to trust,

Anyone we meet.

As we spent most of our time,

Running from the heat.

 

Yet we succumb to our retention,

And the harsh, judgmental views.

We’ve learned to keep our mouths shut,

And dare not fight or argue.

 

So, before you choose to bring

Another child into this world,

Please make sure that you will love them,

With all your heart and all your soul.

 

Shirley Petrandis/Copyright 2007

Reviews

[LadyLove]

I fully agree with you! If one must have a child then be prepared to love it with all your heart. Such a sad situation to have so many children feeling unloved in this world. Such a basic thing to have the warmth of parents. Geez, a terrible waste of human potential being shuffled about and treated so indifferently on many levels. Big blessings to you on this one. Be well!

[austin_mcmulin]

I appriciated this poem, having foster brother and sisters has, in ways made me a foster child as well and your piece really captured the disabling results of those processes. I love my adopted brother and sisters like their exactly that, interestingly this nucules of family leads to a protracted position towards society. This is why I think you highlight the role of labels and dysfunction. The horror stories of fostercare provide endless chapters of humanities morbidity and paradoxically like always some of life's greatest joys. Thank You.