Hush Now Child – Terry Hopper
5Hush Now Child
Terry Hopper
Luton, Bedfordshire
UK
Sleepy head with eyes a blur
led by hands both lords and Earls,
Risen in the dead of night,
from slumbered sleep, to electric lights,
Dressed for bed not time to play,
Silent whispers come their way
Hush now child, don’t be afraid
The deal is done the fee’s been paid
The man he smells of drunken bars
late night debates and stale cigars
His touch it leaves me cold and frigid
caressing me intimately with yellow digits
Paraded round, I’m the victor’s prize
Bribed with sweets and vicious lies
Hush now child, don’t make a sound
As he has my hands all taped and bound
And as the tears they stream on my face
His belt his trousers and shoes unlace
The darkened room, the bed I fear
Lustful looks and dirty leers
Slobbering, drooling, agony and pain
Slaps and beatings, I cry in vain
I’m passed around from pillar to post
Here them cheer, here them boast
Clock stands still, the minutes pass
But I know this time, won’t be the last
A special child, the pretty one
Someone’s daughter, someone’s son
And as the years have left their scars
The abusers leave in chauffeured cars
Back to the commons and family life
Back with children, and a loving wife
The civil service and MI 5
Hiding secrets they contrived
Blame each other for their crimes
Dam the tabloids, the ‘accusing headlines’
The establishment hides its dirty stains
With dementia and ‘lost’ files it duly feigns
The wounds are open, out in the air
No more visitors to Dolphin Square
So tonight as you lay your kids to sleep
Think of those who gently weep
For those whose screams couldn’t be heard
Silent victims without a spoken word
The time has come to name and shame
The time has come to lay the blame
Free the children and break the chains
Heal the wounds and ease the pains
Bio: Terry says this poem is about the stolen innocence of a child.
This is very powerful Terry! Sad to think there should be a need to write on this subject but there is! You have done it very well!!
Thank you…sometimes a subject matter just has to be spoken about and a voice given to those who need to be heard
So sad. Very eloquently stated, Terry. Your writing is always thought provoking.
Terry you teach through example about abuse. It makes us feel and think what is right to do so there is no wrong and no hush child.
I wanted to comment when this post first went up – but I suppose because it was so confronting it was hard to do so. I would love to say great poem well written but it just seems like the wrong thing to say when the subject is such an horrific ordeal. I particularly like the last verse because it is empowering and brings hope.
How do we get to see your work when Narrator has gone?