"FACINGFACES 2002 - 04" SELECTED POETRY

SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Daily I walk down the long corridors.
Head and shoulders down , I trod lonely halls.
But today a chance movement caught my eye ,
Dimly I saw shadows along the walls.
I looked once again and the shadows moved.
As I stared closely they came into focus.
The specters of children who are long dead .
Their haunted eyes watching as we pass by.
Today 's trial will draw no crowds to watch.
The victim was only an unknown child.
No media frenzy to draw a crowd.
For no rich man's darling was this little one.
Today the " victims " press into the court.
They fill the benches and stand in the aisles ,
And only I have noticed their presence ,
As they wait and pray for some small justice.
To most they are but shadows of the past.
No one wept tears when they too were murdered,
But I watch as they silently gather,
Their haunted eyes filled with tears and sorrow.


Pam Colling
USA
copyright 2002