It seems many people lack maturity.

Oh my heart... this is why we need to raise awareness. I think all of us, at some point, have felt overwhelmed before by all the injustices and abuse in this world. Maybe that's just our humanness or ignorance or fear to act... it can be all too easy I believe, to fall into the trap of feeling powerless, like they're too many "victims" to help.

A sad, gut-wrenching write. But this needed to be said, so thank you for writing this, Larry <3

This is filled with a sadness and awareness needs to be greater because too many children have died from abuse.
All the best, Em

Larry, congratulations on your win, well deserving. It's a sad state of affairs in these days of real time and social media that so many children continue to be abused. As you stated, perhaps we should wrap up all these kids and place them along the road to get people to realize how big this problem really is. Powerful write, well done Larry.

Congratulations Larry. I hope this raises awareness for this terrible issue.

Congratulations on a well deserved win

Em, Brenda & Michael
Thank you each one!

make the children safe!

Congratulations on this excellent and important write, Larry and for the win.

SL

I didn't read this poem when you posted it at first because the title seemed too similar to the movie Boy in the Blue Striped Pyjamas but..now that it's won I can see why it did. I think the portrayal of the fact that most just shrug their shoulders just stood out to me...why do people still continue to do that?

A heart wrenching situation which takes place in every country and some are just swept away without a care.

Perhaps if the children
were encircled instead
in bright blue bandages
and set along the road
pitiful and helpless
passersby would get it.

^^Sometimes actual facts must be displayed for action to take place that seems to be the only way for the others to stand up against this kind of abuse.

Another thing I noticed about this poem is that it is very simply and matter of fact-ly been written with subtle rhymes. So it does not focus on just how well this message has been put forward but how well it grabs the reader to take that minute to feel for these kids.

You'd hear then
a momentary sigh;
"Oh well, what can be done?
I mean, there's just so many"
and they, each and every,
will drive on by.

^^Yeah its this attitude that gives support and encouragement for the abusers to go on. If one revolts others will follow suit.

One thing-with the last two lines I had to read and re-read for it was not making sense..then it did but I still feel there could have been an added line or word but then again the structure of this poem will get disrupted.

and they, each and every

^^maybe: and they, each and every one will sound better of make it/me understand then again its just a suggestion.

All in all a well deserved write, Congrats on the Win :)

Ugh, this poem made my heart hurt. I think about this all the time... a person or people know something bad - really bad - is going on, but they choose to ignore it. They pretend it isn't there. They leave the mess for someone else to clean up. Sometimes there isn't someone else. The last stanza is what really gets me. I know too many people who are like this. Sigh and drive on by.
Powerful poem. Important message. Thank you for bringing attention to this painful reality.

Sorry for the belated congratulations and comment but things have been so hectic recently this is the first opportunity I have had. Well done on a very well deserved win. A truly wonderful poem
Milly x

Judging Comment:

If it weren't for the note at the bottom of the piece I would say that this write can be seen as a symbol and awareness for quite a few different occasions, but I am glad for the note and the way it clarifies the meaning for this specific piece by the author. This piece really stands out for its simplicity wrapped contemplation, we all write "the world would be better if" type of pieces but this one takes that to a more actualized level because it is explaining not only where we are going wrong but how we got to this point as well. The line about lacy blue ribbons is definitely something I would not have expected - while children are delicate (like the image of lace suggests) the topic at hand does not come across as having the same... particularities; and that truly caught my attention as showing the author's unique way with words as well as directing their intentions in a manner of informing the reader where they stand on this issue. As heartbreaking as this piece is, it is also eye opening.