Something had happened
as she stood in the dark hallway
of the big old house.
A breeze blew the filmy curtain
and fear shrouded her innocent face.

I took her away to a land of peace
and cleansing waters.
I nurtured her and fed her physically,
and spiritually.
We painted together and built sand castles.

We talked each other to sleep
in a world of balmy breezes and
soothing forgiveness.
We played until the delight of childhood
was pleasantly exhausted.

I left, feeling renewed.
My paintings held a new freedom.
My writing expressed a purging of the past.
I drove back to reality, aware that
the child within was beginning to heal.