The story of Milly Ryan

Sorry to hear that and let the time heal we love you.

The last time I saw her was
October 6th 1997
they say times a great healer
but I'm not so sure.

- that saying is often said but very rarely does it feel true. Great opening.

It was a cold October morning
Milly was wearing her favourite coat
that had a stain on the back, maybe
if I took more notice then she would
still be here today.

- The regret stands out here in this stanza, of how we always look back and wish we could change just one thing or do something differently. It is part of greiving.

She left for school and said she loved me
I was busy working,to be honest of all them
thirteen years that's
all I remember.

- I think them should be those, in my opinion.

Around 2pm that afternoon I received a call
Milly ... Was dead
Found hanging in the toilets,all I kept asking
was why ...just ...why
it took a while but finally we heard.

- this is so sad to read, and yet I know it happens all the time. I know the why's can be over powering as we start to search for any answer we can make fit into the mystery.

I found out that Milly tried to take her life before
she tried to tell me but I was working, it turns out
she was being abused by a gang of thugs
every night she was late but I never noticed
not once .

- this is so true that victims of abuse try to tell, even though they may not come direct out and say it, they try to tell in their own way which would be picked up if people paid more attention. Unfortunatly so many people are busy these days with work and bigger families it is harder to see what goes on around us.

Everyday the pain get harder knowing that
I could of done something , saved her life
and now forever I'm cursed
with the image of her smile
Knowing...
I failed her.

- the pain gets* harder. as you are talking in the present tense.

- the ending to this is so powerful, it really hits you the guilt you feel and the emotions you now have to go through because of this loss. It is a very powerful image you have gave the reader to end with, her smile, perhaps one which was fake for all the world to see, or perhaps the one you remember from when she was younger and the smile was real.

Very powerful poem, amazing story as always and put together so well.

Tony, that was heartbreaking. Lovely write. I think it's a true one, right?