Moving Away Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Remembering times when younger, playing on seventy-
five acres on Tullo Road.
Willow trees all around, my favorite hiding places
when I wanted to get away from my five younger
sisters at the time.
Reading books, doing puzzles, playing dolls, having
a good time just entertaining myself.
With all my sisters those times were few and far
between and I looked forward to hiding from them.

New Jersey, a beautiful place to grow up in the
forest on top of a mountain.
Although time there was cut short, as my parents
moved us to Arizona.
Heart still holding all memories of a happy child-
hood, also of the lonely hurt and emptiness of
leaving close family behind.
Sadness at losing all those precious future memories
with them, is still held here in my mind and soul.
Writing always from this sadness as it touches me
intensely, trying to ease the pain of it, although
it hasn't happened yet and I'm sixty-three.

Parents don't always realize what they put their
children through nor of the lasting damage done to
their souls.
Children left to their own devices, undeveloped minds
trying hard to understand the reasons why they've
been hurt.
Understanding never reaches their little hearts as
they cry themselves to sleep night after night,
growing up with the pain given them by their loving
parents.

(10: 58 a.m. - 1/19/13)