Monday, 20 September 2010

One Stop Spotlight: Arms Outreached by Katherine

When I first started blogging, I must have been naive. I figured I would write a bit, maybe meet a few friends. I never would have suspected the friends I would make from around the world, or that from so far away your life would be touched by mere words. Today I turn the spotlight on Katherine, from Australia.

As I was going through my reader this week, I came across a poem that gripped my heart and turned my stomach, so I knew I had to share it with you. Katherine wrote this poem about an event that happened in the lives of their family, and a girl that goes to school with her son.

Thanks Katherine for touching our lives with your words. To read more of Katherine's poetry, stop by her place.

~Brian


Arms Outreached
a poem by Katherine

Glancing back at the week that was
My heart it sinks inside
I wonder about her youthful life
And wish she hadn't died

What could make a young heart fret
So much she couldn't breathe
What would make her end her life
It's so hard to conceive

I wonder if she realized
In the making of this choice
The finality of this moment
That would take away her voice

I tell my sons there is nothing
That they can't come share with me
I would rather that they share their lot
Than feel they have to flee

I didn't even know this girl
But her death it caused a shock
How fragile a young mind can be
Us parents must take stock

Lets not take our kids for granted
Lets remember we must teach
Our children to live wholly
With our hearts & arms outreached

By KMF

17 comments:

Matty said...

When I saw this poem, I knew I had to pass it on. Glad you found it and are doing the same. What a powerful message.

dustus said...

Heart-gripping and stomach turning—Katherine's poem lived up to Brian's intro. Indeed a powerful message to open the lines of communication with your children. Beautifully written, and so sad what happened. Thank you for sharing your poetry, Katherine.

Corbie said...

A heart gripping poem indeed. The sadness so elegantly captivated in the piece. A great message to pass on to parents. Sad but powerful monday one shot.

Sheila said...

very sad and unfortunately, happens too often. Katherine did a great service to bring this subject into light by writing about it. Thanks for choosing to Spotlight this poem, Brian.

Brian Miller said...

thanks matty, this one was hard not to...working with kids myself i have been faced with similar...

moondustwriter said...

We sadly have a huge death rate among teens in our area. It never stops breaking my heart when a breath stops. If only they could have asked for a hug and reassurance of love it may never have ended.
Katherine - I always appreciate your poetry; this one speaks volumes
Brian - thanks

Moon tears

Claudia said...

happens far too often - and my heart hurts when i think about how desperate a young person must be to do such a thing and how important it is to tell them what you said with such beautiful words in your poem katherine

Marshy said...

this was a very moving piece that i am glad has been spotlighted and shared...thanks Bri for bringing this to the spotlight table..cheers pete

Lisa Ursu said...

"I would rather that they share their lot
Than feel they have to flee"

How beautiful for your sons to know that there is
always a soft place to land in you.

Wonderful words Katherine.

PattiKen said...

This is the stuff of a parent's nightmare. Beautifully expressed, Katherine. Thank you. And thank you, Brian, for sharing it with us.

Tina said...

Oh what a tragedy. As a teacher, I saw similar situations. They never leave you. Beautiful work, Katherine. And thanks Brian, for sharing.

Katherine said...

Thank you everyone for your beautiful thoughts & comments on my poem, I really do appreciate every single on of them. And thank you so very much Brian for believing my poem good enough to share with you readers, I feel honored to be spotlighted on your blog.
It was such a unexpected terrible event & one that leaves your head reeling with questions of why & how something like this can happen.
I think sometimes we get caught up in the business of life, just getting through all the motions of everyday that sometimes we don't stop long enough to 'really' listen to our children. Thus the reason for writing the poem.
Thank you all again, very much xxxx Katherine

Katherine Krige said...

That was beautiful, all the more so for the sad subject matter. A wonderful find and thanks for sharing with us.

Katherine (from Canada :-] )

TALON said...

Beautiful poem about a heart-breaking tragedy.

* said...

Beautiful poem, so sad, makes me fret for the time my kids will be teens, the time will come (I have years to prepare for it) and it will be like walking on ice, I can anticipate it already...

* said...

Beautiful poem, so sad, makes me fret for the time my kids will be teens, the time will come (I have years to prepare for it) and it will be like walking on ice, I can anticipate it already...

signed...bkm said...

never stop talking to your children...no matter now mad you get at them..communicate, communicate, and when they yell...I hate you ....communicate..being a teen is not easy....blessings...bkm