Innocenct Lost

written November 25, 2000

An open meadow
moist with morning's dew
A child sits alone
Her hell-fire red hair
cascades over her shoulders
in loose curls
Her deep green eyes reflect
a wisdom that her age does
not allow
Laughter fills the air
Children's laughter
The picture of innocence
But she no longer belongs to
the land of purity
She knows too much pain
and cruelty to reside there
with the others
So she stands
The breeze blows her hair
back out of her face and
off of her bare shoulders
She feels the moisture of the dew
on her bare feet,
as she brushes the grass
off her shorts
She pauses, lifts her chin
and closes her eyes;
listening to the laughter
for only a moment longer
before turning around
and walking away