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The New Social Worker is the quarterly magazine for social work students and recent graduates, focusing on social work careers for those new to the profession. This blog is a companion to the free online magazine at http://www.socialworker.com.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Today was ...

I AM SEARCHING for the right adjectives and they all fall short.

Today was really hard, really sad. Because I saw evidence from abuse that is unfathomable. Malnourishment, bruises, marks, and scars from belt-buckles.

All I can think of are the lyrics from "What's the Matter Here," by Natalie Merchant (click here to see a performance by her) :

"Answer me and take your time,
what could be the awful crime
he could do at so young an age?


If I'm the only witness to your madness
offer me some words to balance out
what I see and what I hear.


All these cold, cold things that you do
I suppose you do
because he belongs to you


And instead of love and the feel of warmth
you've given him these cuts and sores
that don't heal with time or with age.


And I want to say, now,
want to say hey, hey,
'What's the Matter here?'


But I don't dare say,
'What's the Matter here?'

But I don't dare say it."

You are safe tonight, little angels.

~Ms. T. J.

1 comment:

  1. I have tears running down my face right now. What a poignant song...I have heard it before, but it's different when you read it in black and white, and realize that it is really an actual person that they are talking about, and now you are communicating about an actual person who's experienced this. 
    Thank you for being willing to be there to stand up for these kids. I know it is going to be very difficult, and there will be more days like this one. Thank god (or the higher power, or whatever you may believe in) that there are people like  you who are willing to give of themselves to make the world a better place.

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