Ode To The Abused Child

ODE TO THE ABUSED CHILD

To all those who -

hear the stories

or witness the bruises

and notice

and stop the world

and time

and the spin

are sick of excuses

and finger pointing

and waiting for officials to act

or government to solve problems

or parents to grow up

To all those who -

can't wait for the cycle to wind down

or the qualified to intervene

or meth to vacate from our neighbors

or fathers to exhaust their rage

To all those who -

are willing to be educated

and feel inadequate

and get dirty

and wade into the filth of humanity

and expose your heart

And you -

don't mind having your world collide with suffering

or gut wrenched

and tears gushed because of inequity

or believe that there has to be a better way

and will shift time and money to captain change

So I declare -

I will rise

I will see

I will fully feel and act

I will be bold

and rude

and loud about love

I will not mistake money for power or authority for responsibility

or even permission for a purpose

I will not hesitate or think it’s someone else's problem or job

I will own it

I may not stop it

but I will slow it down and I will inject hope

and I will rescue one, maybe two

today, someone is me

today, no one is me

today, everyone is just me

child abuse sucks for everyone -

so I declare:
I am the solution!

Glenn Garvin - June 2009