Torch of Innocence The laughter of children, Quickly turns into a shrill! A piercing sound of screams, Tears and anguish, replace the smile... As the torch of her innocence burns out, And a thud slams across her skull! Again and again repeatively! She's left in a daze... Confused over what went wrong? A simple childish game, Taunting and teasing her little brother. It's what children do, It wasn't allowed! She learned that the hard way. Her tear streaked face, She goes quiet now... But in her mind, The questions spill over each other, Why only me? But her mouth doesn't move, She's too afraid, To say out loud, Her deepest fears... She's really bad! Deserves this, needs this, wants this... Silently she walks away, And vows to be good! She'll vow this, way into her adulthood But still the approval she'll miss, Reflects in writing, trying to explain this? Even after, her dear old dad, has died. � Elizabeth 6th November 2001