The Child I Want To Be

He giggles, I cough

Both breathless.

He smiles with joy,

I grimace, struggling.

She laughs, carefree

I sob, cornered by anguish.

I long for them hands

That caress, not slap

I yearn for those eyes

That fill my soul with love

I cry for the one, who

greets me with a hug

And not an indifferent shrug.

When I walk in the park, for alms

Ten so far, ‘Good day!’ I think

Then I see him jump on his dad’s shoulder

And my chest becomes this giant boulder

Weighing my spirit down. I blink

Back the tears, try to stay calm.

I want to laugh too, I want to play

I want to have someone who makes my day

I want some cake, chocolate and plum

Carrying rocks all day makes my hands numb

Hope is dwindling: is this how I die?

Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

This day is nothing but bleak

By I will act, if not speak

Come tomorrow, come my child

I refuse to abandon you to the wild

You will have hope, laugh and play

I will be there to make your day.

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