In The Eyes Of Others

She sat there in tears
contemplating life
with little faith
that today would be different.

With her palm turn upward
as if she were to receive a gift,
scars reflected yesterdays work
that lingered with anguish.

With strength that rose
from the depths of her swollen stomach
she pushed back the fears
and lower back pains

that racked her frail body.
Passersby neither looked nor stared,
as cries screamed into air,
she was after all nothing more

than the ballad’s daughter,
who’s role it was to sell songs
for a shilling or two.
But in the eyes of her new born,

she was the most important person in the world.

Copyright 2003 Tracey L. Hardie