I like them too.
I thought I was a basket case
But there’s this thirteen year old
I read about
Who takes anti-depressants
Anti-psychotic drugs,
Two drugs for attention deficit disorder
& she takes what I take too.
Christ,
I know growing up is tough
But I didn’t know it could be
Tough as this.
I could take other drugs,
Ones that she takes
But the doc reckons I’ve got this far
Without them
I can go the rest of the way.
I just hope that little thirteen year old kid
Makes it out of the forest okay.
*photo courtesy of Ulle
John Malone 
Hi John, I heard about a toddler lost in the woods in Australia. Your poem reminds me how difficult it is growing up for some kids. The world is full of dangers, only we don’t know it when we’re young.
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yes that story as you probably have heard had a happy outcome. I think kids who get shoved from one foster home to another do it very hard as do our First Nations teens who are incarcerated — this is now being addressed, thank goodness —
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Someone has to clear a path for these teens. A pathway to peace and happiness. Thoughtful post, John.
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thanks, K: growing up is never easy even in a relatively peaceful household; adolescence as we well remember is fraught with inner turmoil —
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Yes, there are definitely times most teens feel lost, confused, and scared. The forest is a brilliant metaphor for that. It seems wrong turns can have long term effects, but really they are a normal part of growing up.
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😥 I hope so, too.
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A lovely post, John. Compassionate and thoughtful.
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thank you, Worms; it must be terrible not to feel loved 😦
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The most desolate feeling in the world, I imagine.
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I have only felt this way for short periods thankfully — enough to have an inkling — but, yes, it would be devastating —
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it must be the hardest thing in the world to feel rejected and lost. the forest is the perfect metaphor
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there have been times, Beth, when I was a child out with my family at a country fair and following a whim I got lost; I think I was actually wailing —
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A thoughtful metaphor, John
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thanks Hobbo 🙂
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Some people’s conditions are truly pitiful. What a poorly designed world.
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Thought provoking…
Well penned…
Leaves me torn to pieces!
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It’s really tough for some…
May God give them hope and strength.
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why some get it so easy and some do it so hard is really hard to fathom ,,,
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Well said John. And important to share.
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A well written post. When you struggle you do want to get out of the forest okay, but the forest is far better than any drugs.
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Teenagers suffer the most,as they go through many changes in this period,during which they experience mood swings,depression,desires to smoke,drink etc… and other people literally don’t help out at all by telling to take drugs,or by scolding them for their habits! Indeed,this child is lost in the forest,and perhaps,she may come back. 😦
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I remember those traumatic teenage years so vividly —
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