Little Girl

Little girl brushing your hair

Little girl, little girl, seems like momma’s not there

It’s hard, bending wire, stroking feathers

Tender love turned to stone

My pain, my father, he did own

One night I looked for a star

I found in place my tears, had turned to tar

Bitter touch, lemon rind, caused all the stress, I leave behind

Little girl, little girl, all alone, with your secret thoughts

a place publicly, where many have taught

Is now a place for only, your painful thoughts?

The treasure box of secrets, no one knew were there

The cat that scratches the skin so bare

Why? Father beat me there

The tears I cried, as I laid wake at night

Thinking God?  Am I old enough to carry all?

The painful weight I bear inside?

My parents told me I had to take it

As if I was their mistake, no care

The stone between my hidden horror No claim

No one would take the blame

I am only ten years old, dear God!

You see my parents didn’t take good care of me

Suffering is my family’s name

Who would know I played the game

Old in my head, yet a young lady, Daddy said I was

Clean the kitchen, wipe the floor, and wash all the walls

Even my doors, you must be quiet; I am trying to think

I command you not to even blink

Winds blowing, trees swaying, and

The water roaring loud against the bay

My Father, My Mother, I had to obey

The clouds would claim the day

Over the hills in the sky

I closed my eyes and began to cry

Peace: where is your protective Love

Love: where is your shield of Mercy?

Mercy: where is your caution?

Caution: where is your security?

Security: where is your Blanket?

Twinkle: twinkle in my eye

I am only thirty inches high

When my footprints seem a little heavy

And sinking in sand

I find that I am sinking sin

Grabbing me from sinking within

I turned and looked once again

And saw another’s hand

Pulling me out of the Marlowe clay

And placing my feet on a rock to stay

It was the Father of all Fathers

The Mother of one child

The God above

He will help the little People work things out

January 2nd, 2002

(c) ROSETTA NESBITT