Please+don't+talk+to+the+reporters


 * Please don't talk to the reporters **

//This poem was written by a teacher in regard to a tragic event that occurred recently at her school. It is shared with the hope that others might look more closely at the children in these types of situations.//

 Outside these walls with cameras zooming microphones held in sweaty palms they judge us Claiming fear for our safety. They call our weeping children Thugs and such No matter to the fact They don’t know them much They wait like predator and “pray” For the doors to swing open Signaling end to the day  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They tell us <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">not to talk <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Yet <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They teach us not <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">how <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">to listen. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Others pray or pry <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Claiming to know <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> secret <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">we must be sharing <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">breathing it into <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a life of its own. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">None caring <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">That <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The children are listening <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">to our every rant <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">for our every whisper <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Hanging tightly to <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">our every word. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Outside these walls <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They know not the sound <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Of crying children <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">By the mass <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Searching for a friend <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They swore they just had passed <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> But in here <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">once we are clear <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">of those who <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">point and stare <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In some strange way <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">We are all okay <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Except for the small detail <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">that <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">we could <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">chase away <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the summer <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">that last week <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">we welcomed <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">but with this week <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">we find <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">looming lonesome. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Came the strangers <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">that first day <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">staring <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or bearing <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">some material comfort <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some wanting to help <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Others only to see <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Not knowing what to do <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">But nor did we, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the funeral procession, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">heads bowed to their staring. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Hiding held grief behind hand and hair <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The children swarm <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some in wailing packs <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Others quietly seeking <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">For the friend <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">whose breath is still <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">on the air <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">whose name stays <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">sweetly on lips <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Within our gasps and sobs <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Somewhere <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">We can feel it <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">He must be right here <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">For <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Just yesterday he walked <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">he swagged <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">he talked <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">and laughed <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or just passed us with a smile <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Little children sit and stare <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wearing the frozen <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Masks of grief <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Longing for only <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">one day <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">one hour <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a moment <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or second <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A word or a touch <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Just **//one//** more <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Knowing yet still <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">It would not be enough <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some judge the ones <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Who know only how to laugh <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Forget they soon the riddle <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The tougher is the outside shell <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the softer is the middle. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Restrain <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">we must <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">those striking out <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">We end in <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">stepping over <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the ones <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> who <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Lie about <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">sit so <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">in quiet calm <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Inside their silent corners <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A little girl <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">sits holding self <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">chin on knees <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">unsettled food <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">in her stomach <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">that was just yesterday shared <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">with the one she lost. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wondering how it could have tasted so good <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Was it <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Only …yesterday? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Less than twenty four <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">ain’t that still today? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Another <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">thinks of the one she knew <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Neither as a name or a face <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a school mate just the same <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wishing <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">just now <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">to have known him better <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wondering <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">just now <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">about the reasons she hadn’t <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Boys throw silent footballs <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Catching dreams turned to memories <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Remembering how it felt <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">To share <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a game, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a dance <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a word, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a laugh <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or lyric <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Swearing solemnly <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or angrily <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">or silently <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">To never forget <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Others speak <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">of his broken neck <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">his beaten body <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">his injured head <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">bearing false witness <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">in repetition of rancid rumors <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A girl sits nearby and asks <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">That I should speculate <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">On the last words spoken <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Between a boy and his mother <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Those having been shared <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Not knowing they were <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Soon to be embraced <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Reaching out to grab them <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">With the fear they might fade <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> But I can only offer <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">One mother’s guess <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">That it doesn’t matter <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Whether or not <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">the love was expressed <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">in words. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A mother knows <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">And so does a son <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They ask me questions <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Not knowing <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I am not allowed <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">To give the answers <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Not seeing that <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I don’t know the answers <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They trust me <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Why? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">To make sense of this <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Why? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">And I can only <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Hide <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">and cry out <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">silently <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">to the universe <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">for the answers <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They don’t see <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">That girl <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Still inside of me <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Walking head slung <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Feeling so dumb <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Carrying my school tears <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Home in a bucket <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chin chin it up <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Appear to be brave <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They haven’t a clue <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">It is <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Just a face <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">which <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">having years of practice <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I’ve learned how to make <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">They know not <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nor know I neither <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">How to hold them up <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">That I am <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wanting desperately <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">not <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">to let them down <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">neither the children <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">nor the tears <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I sneak for them <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">when no one comes around