Child I Used to Be

By The Poetess (SRP)

On a lonely summer day I sat at the forest's edge

Feeling the impact of life's hard lessons,

When she came to me, a mere child of three,

In soiled, worn-out clothes and hair of honey gold.

I stared at her in wonder - taking in all I could see,

Realizing that she was. . .the child I used to be.

I thought my eyes deceived until she began to speak -

Glaring through big brown eyes, as tears ran down her cheek,

"You spend your life searching but don't remember and see,

That I have been here waiting for you to return to me.

You ran away and forgot the great plans we had for you -

The joyful games we'd play and magical things we'd do."

She sat on the ground rubbing her cold, bare feet

Crying, "You didn't take me with you

To the people we were to meet!

You forgot the castles we were to build in the sand,

And not once did you try to hold my little hand!"

She bowed her head, declaring with a sigh,

"And worst of all, you forgot how to laugh and cry!"

My heart filled with sadness. I knew she was right.

I’d left her to grope alone on a cold and dreary night.

In over twenty years did not return or ever even try

To find the child I cast away. . .for the pain I hid inside.
I reached for her shaking hand and asked if she'd forgive,
While making a sincere promise that together we would live.
She climbed into my lap where we held each other and cried
Until joy was what was left of the pain we felt inside.

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