Regina M Griego

The Innocents

How does one betray such innocents?

Their eyes too big,
so full of joy, expecting love.
They voice their need,
express joy and contentment,
sadness, and frustration.
They do not expect betrayal.
They can’t understand our frustration,
anger, anxiety, fear and confusion.

The betrayal of rejection, neglect,
harsh punishment, and humiliation.
The betrayal of screams,
a slap, a punch, or beatings.
The betrayal of selfish and inappropriate touch,
affection, or sex.
The betrayal of killing a child, silencing them forever,
hurting them to death or shooting them with a gun.

How could any innocent child anticipate
or expect such betrayal?
How do we betray the innocents?
How are we complacent?

Where did we go wrong?
How can we protect the innocents?  

Bio

Regina has been writing poetry since high school, mostly during times of trouble and transition. After retiring from a long career as an engineer, Regina is in the fermentation stage of becoming a memoirist. Her ancestry is from New Mexico going back 400 years and this work represents her journey through healing and supporting her nephew who shot and killed his father (Regina’s brother), mother and three siblings at age 15.