Race_9togo

Jan 24, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

A Lesson In Protection

At the park
my youngest son knocked
down by laughing bully
No tears from him
just hurt and anger
defiance
and a bloody lip

my older son on fire
leaps to defense
of little brother
I sit and watch while
he takes on the bully:-
karate lessons work!
The bully's face
says he knows he
bit off more
than he can chew

The bully on his back
my son takes
a big step back
one fist raised
the other open
stretched out
to stop his
little brother
saying "don't get up,
don't get up or
you'll get hurt"

my youngest watching
looking down at defeat
looking up to his protector
his big brother
my youngest's eyes
full of fading rage
and growing understanding
fists unclenching
learning, learning

mercy in the midst
of battle from
my eldest son
the weak protected by the strong
an epiphany in
my younger son
the simple joy
of raising boys up into men
Am I doing it right?
I think I am

— Race_9togo, Jan 24, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Earth Vicinity (within a five light-year radius), ZZC

Favorite Poets: John Donne, T.S. Eliot, Serendipity, Emily Dickenson, Kailashana, Charles Bukowski, Kabir, Rett, Dalton, W. B. Yeats, William Blake, Rainer Maria Rilke, and many other Neopoet poets; Neopoet has heavily influenced my poetry and my ability to write it well.

Critiques

Mohammad Yamin Iraqi

17 years 4 months ago

A Lesson in Protection

A good write. Ofcourse raising the boys to face a bully bravely is the right attitude to teach to young men and perhaps even to grown ups. Look around you and you will see some bullies destroying the fabric of peace through out the world. See what is happening in Iraq, Plestine and Kashmir. If the mothers of these nations had taught their youg how to deal with the bullies and they had the wherewithal, the situation would not present such a grim picture that is today. Teach your young to stand for justice and be brave to fight the evil for the victory of gentle, meek and just. Please teach them not to transgress the limits in any event even while dealing with the bullies. May God help you to teach virtues. -Mohammad A Quatrain from my book Rubai'yat of Josh Malihabadi -A Drop and the Ocean: I'm neither a priest nor a saint To serve the world is my covenant Such a man can never be my friend Who knowingly steps even on an ant

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Mohammed

Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, I agree, our world would be better if we taught them so. So the only way to make it happen IS to teach them exactly this. It might take a while, but eventually, when enough of our children are properly taught, perhaps peace will finally take hold. May God walk beside you, Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

IKnowNoBox

17 years 4 months ago

I have three brothers

two younger, one older. I have been the defender, and the defended. I have had my older brother press me to confront my bully, watching to be sure the bullies older brother witnessed only. My mom watched from the window. The Answer.. Yes you did, and are raising them to be men. In ink, Dabbler

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Thanks Dabbler

I had no one to teach me any of this, lol I had to learn the hard way - I'm just making damn sure they don't have to do it the same way! Thanks again Respectfully, Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Kelsey

:D Thanks much Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

R.M.Shanmugam

17 years 4 months ago

If a woman is very

If a woman is very beautiful, man doesn't probe her heart. this poem is so beatiful in wording, sequence, style, i gave less weight to contest the contents. Shanmugam

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

RM

LOL Thank you so much my friend. I love the way you use words! Respectfully, Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Jim,

I, too, think you´re doing a good job raising your boys. My son is taking judo lessons, and I am impressed with how the martial arts don´t only teach the kids self-respect and power, but also control, discipline and respect for others. The poem brought tears to my eyes, as I pictured your boy standing there "one fist raised the other open stretched out". Thanks, ~Nina

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Thanks Nina

Yeah, aren't martial arts great for kids? reinforces discipline and self-restraint. And how to stand up for themselves at the same time too! can't be bad. Your tears show me that I got it right. Thanks again Nina. Sincerely Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

themoonman

17 years 4 months ago

Jim...

there were indeed lessons all around that day... the lesson to the bully... to be more careful who he picks on... the lessons your boys were taught by the experience... and the lesson you were given... to allow those boys to become...and overcome... enjoyed the poem Jim... and in my opinion... you are doing right by those boys... Richard

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Thanks Richard

yes its one of those poems that kept getting more and more levels of meaning to it as I edited and rewrote and added. I love these "unfoldings" of perspective and multiple meaning in a poem. Respectfully Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

Stella

17 years 4 months ago

Jim, I don’t have brothers

Jim, I don't have brothers or sons for that matter but the story you're telling here is precise and clear. A lesson in life and the fatherly guidance witnessing them, raising them... It's a very touching write Jim. Even though I can't literally relate you've painted such an excellent picture of your boys that it moves me. Must be wonderful and scary at the same time watching them grow up... ~Stella

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Thanks Stella

Happened last summer. I am glad that you enjoyed it so. Respectfully Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

Tink

17 years 4 months ago

Jim,

I enjoyed this piece. Unfortunately growing up, i was the big "brother" to my little sisters. image that a girl who now owns a demolition business was the big "brother"!!!! Strong lesson here, worded with precision. You should be proud of your boys, I don't know them and I am. Live, Laugh and Love (and don't forget to write) Tink

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Thank you Tink

LOL I am proud of them, Tink. They are a joy. Respectfully, Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

barbsdad2003

17 years 4 months ago

Boys who ...

mimic their sometimes role models are one thing; boys who've learned to choose, to judge wisely independent of mimicry ... ah! those are boys to be proud of. And my hat's off to any father who allows that growth in his son(s). And to you in particular. Thanx much, Chuck PS: I don't feel particularly successful as a father. My own lacked much in that department, so I didn't have it modeled well by one who counted for so much in my own childhood. And of course the whole thing was made far worse in my case as an adult: My son, who died at 20 of heart failure brought on by his cystic fibrosis, was autistic. The word autism covers a lot of ground, and I won't go into explaining it, esp. since it's pretty much unexplainable. It's enough to say that his state made being his father challenging in the extreme ... even if that father were to have been deemed Father of the Year. Which I was not.

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

My sympathy for the loss of your son

I know autism well, and you're right, it is unexplainable to those not exposed to it. My youngest son suffers from broad autistic spectrum disorder, although he is overcoming the frustration and anger that it causes, and is very high-functional. and of course extremely intelligent, as most autistic people are. I can't imagine having it coupled with cystic fibrosis though, that would almost impossible to deal with. Fatherhood is something that I had to learn from scratch. No role model that I'd ever want to emulate. The only thing I gained from the idiot who sired me - apart from life, and I've cursed his name for that a few times in the past - is to think about what he did in any given situation, then do the exact opposite. Glad you enjoyed my poem Respectfully, Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

Ink Dragon

17 years 4 months ago

Jim and Chuck,

I have just realized how fortunate I am and have always been...I have two healthy kids, and a father who was always there for me when I needed him... You both have my symphathy and my utmost respect. Sincerely, ~Nina

infinite_dwarf

17 years 4 months ago

Jim

I really liked this piece, but not sure how I stand on the fighting back thing. Now an adult, I realize that if I fight, I can and will be put in jail. I guess if it's taught to defend yourself, you have to know when to turn it off, and when not to use it at all. If someone draws a knife on me, and I have room to turn around and run, I will. If someone cocks their fist like they're gonna punch me, I'll run. It's just not worth going to jail over UNLESS they are intending to hurt my family, or I can't escape, or they've already hurt my family. It took a lot of growing up to get to this position. In school, I always defended my friends. That still carries over today, and if anyone bad-mouths my friend, and I see/hear it, they will receive a verbal/written punch. Quite a few of these examples can be found here on this site. ~Jess K. ---------------------------------------------------- -"Handle every situation like a dog: if you can't eat it, or screw it, piss on it and walk away!"

Race_9togo

17 years 4 months ago

Jess

Unfortunately, as I have said before, being passive in the face of attack depends upon a level of morality and conscience on the part of the agressor that most people lack these days, so not fighting back can get you hurt, or even killed. I would rather my children defend themselves against their enemies, defeat them and have to go to jail than calmly sit still while they and those they love are being brutalized or killed. But they must, and do, learn restraint, its the only thing that stops the battle from becoming war. As for running away, I have no problems with that. I am the first to call the cops, and I would rather leave the field to the idiot who thinks he's tougher than me, than have to prove to him that he isn't. And I don't know where you live Jess, but where I do, self defense is not against the law. Besides, I would rather accept the consequences of my own actions and go to jail than live in fear of a bully, or societal retribution. glad you enjoyed my poem! Respectfully, Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race