When I was a child I did not have
the luxury to think as a child
for on any given day they would
seize me, drug me, and do things to me

That no human, adult or child, should
ever have to endure. God planted
in me a living testimony
timed to awaken deep within me

Precisely at the moment I was
to begin to speak. My speech was shy,
tentative at first, for all strength had
been stripped from me like so many things.

The angels had to hold me up and
still I fell down again and again.
Accusers and abusers came out
of the woodwork, emerged from swamp

Of my memory. Fuzzy at best
I felt bereft at failing God's call
which was the only thing left in me
at all. All those things little children

Take for granted I never knew, so
I did my best to learn and I grew
in wisdom and in stature. Even
so, they taunted me when I did not

Know "basic things"—this came too from those
who witnessed, participated in
what was taken from me. I thank God,
all the angels that they protected

My heart by dimming my mind to my
suffering, or the details of it
anyway. When I was a child I 
believed I must be wrong when the song

Of my soul would sing to me and wrap
me up in tender care, showing me 
I was not aware of just how harsh
reality was. I was stubborn

And refused to believe in my own
insufficiency. Now I am grown
and see well value of nourishment.
I ask life to bring me all I need.