The depth of their love only ran so deep
And through the hard times, it would not keep
The child that they had, could not sleep
He senses something wrong and only weeps
Too young to know yet knew that he did
He knew one was gone because he added
Growing older was sad, for he was shielded
The other kids had Dads and he felt cheated
© 2011 Michael Yost
http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/2011/07/poetry-potluck-week-45-nature-and-life.html
Michael's Lair 
awww that is sad 😦 feels as if he is blaming himself in a way. 😦
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Unfortunately most kids do blame themselves. Divorce is harder on the kids that the parents.
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I know that for a fact but to quote a friend of mine whose parents were divorced “her life improved once the fights stopped”. There is always 2 sides , some kids bounce back fine enough and others don’t. One has to know their children and seek the help necessary to deal with the decisions, best to raise kids in a resentlment, fight free, anger free zone
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I can’t express how happy that makes me feel to know that some parents know how to act responsibly. I also know some families that are far better off as a whole. Unfortunately there are “left over’s” that don’t understand and blame themselves for the situation they’re in and those are the ones I’m writing about. Broken homes hurt everyone.
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tease those sad lovers, with kids suffering, well done.
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Thanks Jingle.
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What makes this piece even more powerful is your title for it. Divorce is hardest on the kids – but often, parents forget about this and think of only themselves … it is a shame many Moms and Dads cannot remember they are still Moms and Dads … the kids too often become the pawns!
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I agree. People need to be responsible.
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too often this is oh so true…
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Thanks for the visit and the comment.
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sad and all too authentic
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Maybe some will break the cycle and try and make the family work as a unit again.
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It’s difficult to write about the painful parts of what life can hold, but when it’s beautifully crafted, as this is, there is yet beauty in hard words. Thanks.
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Gratitude accepted and given. Thanks for commenting and visiting.
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Awww that is so sad,
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Yes it is. We just need to be sensitive to them and their needs.
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Divorce is hard– a wound that will never heal in all involved.
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I’ve found that to be true.
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I found this very sad too. A very resonant poem, although I’m maybe lucky this is not an experience that’s come close to me yet.
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You are indeed a lucky or better yet a blessed child of loving parents.
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This is a very impressive piece and although it is sad I enjoyed reading it very much
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Now if we can remember these children when we see them.. just to give them a hug if you can.
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Lyric and apt verse for one of life’s all too frequent tragedies.
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Thanks for stopping and for the comment.
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so sad, heartbreaking.
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Thanks Robin for the comment and the visit.
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What a sad poem. You described how the child felt well in your piece. I could imagine him 😦
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There is so many more now. Thanks for stopping by.
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The beginning of the chain of saddness and guilt for the child “left over”. Always to be worked on by the children…I really felt your poignant poem..
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Thanks Lyn.
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A sad but all too true story for many individuals. Well done!
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Thanks Tekia.
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know this one..
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Me too.
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Sad. True. Well done … Thanks, Michael!
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We have to help the children go through the grieving process when we can.
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Touching poem Michael. Nicly done!
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Thanks, and let’s do what we can when we’re confronted with the situation.
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Very sad. Your rhymes are reminiscent of nursery rhymes echoing the child’s point of view.
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Thanks, that’s what I had hoped for! Glad you commented and bringing that up.
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Made me think how can we unite as mankind when some find it so hard to unite the family. So sad as the child of the world. So sad for the hurting child in a hurting family.
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Thanks for the thoughtful comment and visit. I think we all feel the same way; now it’s just a matter of us individually doing their part.
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Beautiful take on a difficult subject. Children do often blame themselves. If they are lucky there is someone around to notice and help…
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Too often people are only mindful of themselves. I do believe though when you mentioned luck you nailed the normal outcome. Thanks for the visit and I enjoyed seeing your blog as well.
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That last line is key…envy is at the heart of childhood trauma…we seem to spend all of adulthood trying to recoup what we lost…
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Envy and abandonment both rank pretty high.
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Well I was a child who wished my parents had divorced! I think Life: Between the Lines made a very valid point. Sometimes divorce will bring a sense of peace back to the family. Drunken fathers laid out on the living room floor and screaming fights that woke you up in the night was no way for children to live. It was hell living in that house!
Great poem, Michael–really got a good dialogue going here.
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I did miss the drunken father, but that’s what he was. I am thankful for that part of it. And I agree with you and Between the Lines as well, but some children still bear the brunt of the after math and still deal with those emotions. So I think we are all in agreement for the most part. smiles…
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Good poem. It hit home. It reminded me of how my son came undone when he realized 2-1=1.
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Thank you. But at least there were 2 of you to ease the transition together.
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