Throngs snake through the street,
the church their destination.
They'll bury him today.

A foreign dignitary? A prominent political figure?

And the throngs turn the corner,
step onto the sidewalk.
They'll bury him today.

A slain policeman? A fireman taken in the line of duty?

And the throngs make their way
up to the steps of the church.
They'll bury him today.

A rock star? A famous movie actor?

And the throngs enter the church
Where the casket stands.
And they'll bury him today.

He was teased.

He was bullied.

He was eleven years old.

He hanged himself.

And they buried him today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://livesteez.com/news/read...Bu...icide/1835.html

flutter,

You mistress of the turn of a phrase! I don't mean to denigrate in any way the intent or message of your poem but because of the season, my first thought was of Good Friday and Easter. That may be because my grandson and I have had several in depth discussions about the holiday and its meaning. He is also an avid fan of Jesus Christ Superstar and I was fortunate enough to take him to see Ted Neeley in that role in the last year. I saw him many years ago just before the play opened on Broadway. It was and is fantastic!

When I read your addendum and followed the link, I thought with tremendous sadness that this death was so needless.....and even perhaps preventable. You did an excellent job in leading the reader on and playing on the imagination. That the end was so tragic really left an imprint that will remain. Thank you for bringing this message to all of us.

Thank you for reading...I can see how you could be misled into thinking it was a Good Friday/Easter poem. I know I usually combine a little fantasy in some of my poems, but unfortunately this is one of my poems that is all too real.

~~flutter~~

tragic - 11 years old, the beginning of the most fragile age.

well done.

allen

Flutter, How terribly sad, that an eleven year old goes unnoticed until his death. Very well written.
Steve