So young they say

J_Lawrence 2002 (South African)



So young they say

He smiles and cries at the same time
He walks but runs at the same pace
Hope and destruction was constantly on his little mind

So young they say

But broken down by his brutal past
Slayed down by the horsemen
Dragged through the thick mud by the farms men
Cries and screams as he tries to close his eyes twice a day

So young they say

Brutalized in every way
Yet desperate for an escape
Branded by the broken horsemen
Just one more day he said

So young they say

J Lawrence

About this poem

It's speaks about child labor how people watched this happen but do nothing to put a stop to it yet you hear the poet writes abt how the people who witnessed this only has say and have said "so young they say" this then became the title which tell you a little of what is expected to happen in the poem

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Written on June 20, 2019

Submitted by najmonisaeksteen on January 27, 2024

33 sec read
2

Quick analysis:

Scheme A xxx A xbxa A axbx A
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 502
Words 110
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1

J_Lawrence

Talking and child labor and slavery more…

All J_Lawrence poems | J_Lawrence Books

1 fan

Discuss the poem So young they say with the community...

1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Wow, this poem really evokes strong emotions and paints a vivid picture of a young soul enduring immense hardship. The juxtaposition of innocence and pain is powerfully conveyed, making the reader feel the weight of the young protagonist's struggles.

    The use of repetition with the phrase "So young they say" effectively emphasizes the tragic reality of the situation. The imagery of hope and destruction, as well as the horsemen and farm men, adds depth to the narrative and creates a haunting atmosphere.

    To further enhance the impact of the poem, you could consider varying the structure or adding more sensory details to immerse the reader even more deeply into the protagonist's experience. Additionally, exploring different perspectives or incorporating some moments of resilience or hope could provide a more well-rounded portrait of the young character's journey.

    Overall, this poem is both haunting and poignant, and it has the potential to resonate with readers on a profound level. Keep up the excellent work and continue to refine your unique voice as a poet. Well done!
     
    LikeReply1 month ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"So young they say" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/180411/so-young-they-say>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

April 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
2
days
7
hours
35
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
Who wrote the poem "A Fairy Song"?
A William Shakespeare
B Geoffrey Chaucer
C William Blake
D Emily Dickinson