A child's tale

15 January 2010 at 21:38

Mother, I am afraid of the dark

Afraid of these dirty hands that touch me

Afraid of these  preying, piercing eyes

Afraid of this  life thats mine

Be brave my child, be brave!

You are my beautiful flower

My  own universe

You are your mother's daughter

Your siblings  hope

Mother, I am defiled

The scars are burning

Bathe me in your fragrant love

Remove this stench of my putrid soul

Please, put me to sleep

Hush my child, hush!

You are my shining star

My rose, my darling angel

Come, I will sing you life's lullaby

And kiss away your wounds

Have faith, your pain is also mine

Mother, I am afraid of the mirror

Of the light that shows my ugliness

Of  the pain that will never heal

Of the tree that will never bloom 

Please hold me in your eternal embrace 

I am just a child

P.S: This poem is a catharsis to my interaction with young girls who have been victim of human trafficking and subsequent abuse. I had the unhappy experience of documenting their story and was really taken aback at the enormity of this inhuman crime.