Childhood

This week's Gooseberry Garden challenge is about childhood.  A prickly subject indeed.  I am including three poems here, presenting three very different aspects of childhood.  I have included 'Dark Awakening' because unfortunately, childhood means abuse to so many.  'Belonging' explores a less sinister, but still very sad aspect of childhood for so many.  And finally, I have included 'A Friend' because I want to hold out the hope that even in the midst of darkness, comfort and friendship comes from unlikely places. 
I would love to hear your comments - good criticism is essential to growth and I appreciate your insights no end, but also if you want to share on any of these aspects of childhood, please do.

Dark Awakening

Detachment: Dreamer spies
through heavy-lidded eyes –
two joyful, faceless forms
are dancing, mesmerized.

Bemusement: Sleeper stirs
to ponder what enthralls –
a tattered, worthless heap
of rag against the wall?

Confusion: Muser hears
with fast-perceiving ears –
the leaping figures’ rage,
their snarling, stabbing jeers.

Discomfort: Listener sees
with painful clarity –
each slashing, vicious step
of cruel insanity.

Abhorrence: Watcher feels
with growing disbelief –
the Life within the rag
of broken, frozen grief.

Revulsion: Soul recoils
in horror, truth remains –
and with a sobbing breath
awakens to the pain.

********************

Belonging

Apart, alone, so different

She sits and tries to pretend

That she doesn't see the stares

Doesn't feel the snubs

Doesn't hear the message they send

But deep in her soul, where nobody sees

The pain throbs behind closed doors

The wounds in her soul

Inflicted each day

Reveal she is losing this war

The tears that she cries, dry unseen in her eyes

Freeze her heart but can't stop her longing

for friends of her own,

some place safe to call home,

Those who want her: a sense of belonging.

*******************************************

A friend

Through the gate and down the high street

Past rows of houses to the village outskirts

Cool red brick and sun dappled hedges dissolve

Into quiet green havens on rich loamy dirt.

A dream carries me

I peddle down trails towards this oasis

Calmly expectant of what will be there

Shimmering coats cloaking elegant forms

Long flowing tails and nostrils that flare

I long to see

Bike leaned against the old wooden fence posts

I snatch at cool grass, quickly filling my fist

Sneaking one hand past heavenly gates

Held open, revealing juicy grass wisps

And I wait…

Watching each move of these beautiful creatures

Gleaming in sunlight, whether chestnut or bay

Hoping they’ll come to eat this poor offering

Before casual breezes steal it away.

And it is too late

Sometimes each step as they graze slowly brings them

Near to the fence that forever divides

And my heart lifts in hope that I’ll briefly taste freedom

Whispered in snuffles of horse-murmured sighs

Of understanding

Warm neck of soft satin, smoothing my fingers

Steadfast heart calmly echoing low

Gentle companionship soothing my soul

Nickers of comfort and peacefulness flow.

And my soul sings.

I see in his soft eye galloping meadows

Joyful canters through pine scented trees

Feeling the ground churned by his hooves

The breeze swirling with him amongst dancing leaves

Without end.

He shares all of these for a handful of grass

And crops there beside me, just over the fence

And I bathe in his presence as minutes slip slowly

Enthralled by his beauty, lost in the scent

Of a friend.