What a ride. This is fantastic. I was one of those latchkey kids as well. We did it and made it work. Ingenuity & creativity. It made us for what we are today. We weren’t kids sitting in the corner crying about spilled milk or some lame ass shit they cry over today. Nice work here.

I don’t agree with everything but that’s okay. Your work makes you think. It’s a topic that is right at the front of the world but everyone is ignoring it. I like how you just tackled the issue in the room.

You might enjoy Ray Bradbury’s short Story “The Veld” it echoes what you are highlighting here.

Keep up the intensity my friend
I really enjoyed this

James

Gritty, raw, and darkly lit. A kind of almost macabre view of a horror scene. You write the dark with great dexterity, my friend. Truly well illustrated.

John

Powerfully penned, Keith. Sounds like a horror movie to me my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Some bodies are limited by hope…

Powerfully written, highly realistic, and illuminating poem on some people’s lives. You wrote this so well, my friend. The ongoing tragedy is captured with vivid and clear storytelling that gives the reader a glimpse into what is going on with this woman through observations so clear that I can empathize with her. She seems to be a result of an upbringing that left her lost. And you illustrate this perfectly here.

John

It is a sad reality for most. But her priorities are fucked! Thank you my friend. Appreciate the feedback!

Truth be told. Life is often cold.

Another write that punches you in the gut. Well done!

Powerfully penned, Keith. Priorities lead to choices, great write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Priorities schmiorities… it is indeed a sad reality for many as Adira stated. But I mean come on??? I’d free bleed if it came down to feeding my kid, something’s gotta give here…

Also hope the POS who gave her the bruises got what he deserved..

Well done my friend, you’re amazing as always!

xx
~P.G💋

You did a great job with this, dear Keith! You are a precise observer and fantastic and non judgmental storyteller who léaves it to the reader to make up their own mind. Concerning me, I pity the woman but at the same time I can’t understand that her baby isn’t her first priority. If possible, breastfeeding would be a wise idea to give the child a solid basis for a healthier life. Maybe, just maybe this baby could be the person to break the vicious crcle of violence, poverty and hopelessness.

Wow, you hold nothing back when you write the dark my friend. Truly a deeply dark and hauntingly horrific look at two people who have given up on life. You do the dark better than any writer I have read.

John

HA! Bring it on!

Damn, Keith. Powerfully penned my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Haha! Damn it, Keith,
you cease to surprise me. I’ve gotta stay on my toes with you.

xx
~P.G💋

Powerfully penned, DK. This one pulls at the heartstrings my friend. Phenomenal write, thanks for sharing. Appreciate you.

Damian

You amaze me every time you put pen to paper…

You’re an impressive writer. Thank you for sharing.

Bad Uncle is impressed ….

BIG LIKE

Beautifully worded. Magically intriguing. You present this topic with patience & understanding. A gentle, moving piece. Nice work DK.

Very nice and, very likely, my favorite form.

Your imagery cushions the blow of loss with love. 🌼

Me too. Thanks for reading, Mary!

It’s a formal poetry style called a Quatern. Eight syllables per line, four stanzas.
Thanks for checking this out, SeaCat!

Beautiful and peaceful. I often wonder as everyone does, what is next. I think it’s not for us to know so we get to choose to believe whatever. I choose to believe I’ll be reunited with everyone I lost and miss. And if I’m wrong well not like I’ll know.

Great ink

If nothing else, DK🍷

I’m helplessly obliged to bow, Dear Poetess, in sheer respect and awe at how accomplished your poetic acumen has been developed … and, this brilliantly rendered French Quatern rendering proves how genuinely undeniable it truly is.
Your amazingly diverse skills are brought vibrantly to light via the many varied themes you bring to the page in widely abundant mastery of poetic forms, command of diction, flowing syntax, metaphoric imagery, emotive instinct, spot-on enjambments and rhymes, and so much more … all brought forth through the rich poetic voice of that of a poetesses’ poetess.

“You know me not, though knew me well.
I cannot reach you through the white
of Heaven’s clouds … as they ingest
your long-awaited evening rest.”

How more perfectly validated could loss of memory be expressed(?) … I really do not know.
And, your Artwork choice? Exemplary!

Well, lest I wear thinner my exuberant welcome, let me close with a simple humble, “Sigh!”
Most reverently, Dear Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard 🙏

Suffering? What suffering?
Seems my “mind” you’ve already distracted … and, if I happen to suffocate, what a way to go … LOL!

Hey ITR! Damn, I’m glad you’re back. When I was reading your stuff, I noted you hadn’t signed on in a month. At least, that’s what it looked like. I’m glad you didn’t miss your gold medal. I love your prose.

So, thanks for the review and critique. I need to go back and adjust the spacing properly. I’m not sure what happened there. This kind of poem should have stanzas (quatrains). Anyway, I’m so glad you like it. I love the Blue Ridge Mtns btw. How lovely it must be to live there. I’m from N.C. and visited The Biltmore many times – not so far away.

Now I can see why its a winner!
I feel sad for not reading this one before. A heart touching write. Well done!
And congrats! “)

Wow, the meter in this is gorgeous. Evokes the great classic poets. Impressive.

Tremendous work. Powerful writing.