She often
came to school each day
And spent her
time alone
She really
didn't mind it though
To get away
from home.
Her father
was so mean and cruel
She never
understood
Why he
treated her that way
She did the
best she could.
The kids at
school would often laugh
As she walked
down the hall
Her clothes
were old and dirty
It made her
feel so small.
Her grades
were never quite the best
Yet, no one
seemed to care
Another year
she spent at home
Seemed more
then she could bear.
Her dad was
never sober
The bottle
always came first
The nights
that he drank whiskey
Was when he
was the worst.
His temper
was so violent
He knocked
her to the floor
She huddled
in the corner
She couldn't
take much more.
Now shaking,
cold and hungry
She covered
her black eye
She limped
into the bathroom
She wished
that she could die.
She wiped
away the blood and tear
That trickled
down her cheek
But couldn't wipe away the pain
From words
that he would speak.
She felt so low and worthless
As she lay
upon her bed
The terrible
things he said to her
Kept running
through her head.
With no one
there to even care
She quietly
counted sheep
She felt
somebody touch her arm
Then drifted
off to sleep.
Then through
the night, a glowing light
Did filter in
the room
The clock
upon the mantel
Said time to
get up soon.
Somehow this
day was different
The house was
deadly still
Except for
little birds that sang
Upon the
window sill.
Her bedroom
now was vacant
God came
within the night
And took her
off to heaven
To live
within The Light.
No longer sad
and lonely
The bruises
gone away
No painful
scars and memories
Just love to
light the way.
Her mother's
voice is calling
Her words are
so sublime
She said, "I
have been waiting"
Come home,
it's suppertime.
Marilyn Ferguson
July
24, 2008