demise

protected and nurtured
with love and support
the girl growing up
in a world of adventure and sport

she hung upside down
and played in the leaves
fireflies caught
and subsequently released

riding her bike
neighborhood friends
smaller in stature
not yet prey for revenge

until someone told her
she was less than enough
only words from a stranger
planted seeds of destruction

teased by her peers
scared of the bus
slowing eroding away
all that she was

gum placed in her hair
at a school event
tears fell at home
something she’ll never forget

she carried her worth
in each stabbing remark
what she saw in the mirror
became ugly and tore her apart

years pass her by
wiser and grown
but the voice of the child
has set her life’s tone

to tear down a wall
made of stone and cement
built stronger each day
of her youth, ever present

will she ever let go
of the hurt of intent?
she can forgive
but she can never forget