my momma wanted a princess girl
wearing pink dresses and lots of frill
i was a tomboy to her disappointment
i loved barefeet and playing in trees

one rainy day, coming home from school
so fascinated by, the mud on my shoes
i sat down to play, and sculpted the mud
i shaped a heart, a gift for my mom

running, in the back door
so excited to show her
the beautiful creation
i had made just for her

her face went from horror to rage
not seeing the heart that laid on my palm
but screaming only, i had ruined my dress
and why couldn't i play, like the other girls

she grabbed hold of my arm
dropping the heart, shattering it to pieces
she ripped off that dress, tearing the zipper
and pushed me into the hot bathtub

she scrubbed at my skin until it hurt
and didn't understand why, i would cry
but mommy, i said ..i made it for you....
and i didn't see, her point of view......

as an adult, i can now understand
to heal and forgive
what happened back then

tears rain from heaven...
and i am rebuilding that heart
it's never too late to make amends

we learn from the lessons
life plays out before us
we can heal the world
when we heal ourselves