Friday Poem - My Little Runaway by Rick Haynes

I'm familiar with Rick Haynes's drabbles and to a lesser extent his short stories - in fact I recently read his collection and enjoyed them immensely. When he posted his drabble length poem 'My Little Runaway' on KUF I immediately asked him to allow me to feature it in the Friday Poem feature. Not only is this a well written and poignant poem it reminded me of some of the people I met when I was on the streets many, many years ago.

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MY LITTLE RUNAWAY
by Rick Haynes


Where are you going to my little runaway?
There’s only pain today.
Is it true you are lost my precious runaway?
Just hunger pangs today.
There’s no one at home who understands you.
So how will you cope in the cold and the dark?

Your world so empty.
Your life so sad.

There are no answers little runaway.
Where will you be sleeping tonight?
There are no sympathies precious runaway.
So how will you feel tonight?

But maybe tomorrow will be brighter.
For maybe your star will shine.
So turn around my little runaway.

Heaven’s too full of your kind.

Some time ago, I was asked to contribute to a scheme highlighting the plight of neglected and abused children in the USA. The weapon of choice being the mighty pen, I decided to write a Drabble. With only 100 words to play with I knew that it had to be punchy, yet thought provoking, and with an important message in the last line.

My Little Runaway immediately jumped into my head and the message refused to abate until I had finished. Although, I must confess that the last few words took a few days to appear in my grey matter.

As a man I deplore man’s inhumanity to man. As a father and grandfather, I loathe any cruelty to children no matter where they live.

My Little Runaway is dedicated to all those alone in the dark.

Click here to buy Drabbles 'n' Shorts from Amazon US / Amazon UK (and it's an excellent read)