28 ICSA TODAY
I wish I could tell you
what it was like
to be a girl
who dreamed of
sparkling glitter
and princess hats
but it wasn ,t like that
it was
developing insomnia
and early mornings
meeting the sunrise
with kerosene eyes
pick the grubs
throw ,em in the can
with my tiny hands
I wish I could tell you
that I danced
and twirled
and giggled
like most little girls
color crayons
and rag dolls
but it wasn ,t
like that at all
It was dirt lines
and corn seeds
on my hands and knees
picking weeds
running from shadows
where demons lurked
while my fingers ached
and my thighs hurt
I wish I could tell you
about flower berets
and Hello Kitty shoes
summertime dresses
and shiny tutus
halos of flowers
hide and seek
but that isn ,t
what it was like for me.
it was bruises
and backhands
swift tongues
and hell threats
grizzly bears
lurking behind trees
miles from the Alkan
helplessness, reversed time
lean-tos and firearms
Arts: Poetry
I wish I could tell you
what it was like
to be a girl
who dreamed of
sparkling glitter
and princess hats
but it wasn ,t like that
it was
developing insomnia
and early mornings
meeting the sunrise
with kerosene eyes
pick the grubs
throw ,em in the can
with my tiny hands
I wish I could tell you
that I danced
and twirled
and giggled
like most little girls
color crayons
and rag dolls
but it wasn ,t
like that at all
It was dirt lines
and corn seeds
on my hands and knees
picking weeds
running from shadows
where demons lurked
while my fingers ached
and my thighs hurt
I wish I could tell you
about flower berets
and Hello Kitty shoes
summertime dresses
and shiny tutus
halos of flowers
hide and seek
but that isn ,t
what it was like for me.
it was bruises
and backhands
swift tongues
and hell threats
grizzly bears
lurking behind trees
miles from the Alkan
helplessness, reversed time
lean-tos and firearms
Arts: Poetry
