The children sound,
"Ring around the rosie,
A Pocket Full of posies.
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down."
The words are so very true,
For death can be felt, all around.

We are here to shed a light,
To things you do not see,
Yet still take a fright.

Do not look,
Pay us no heed!
Or Death will mark you next,
And a pox will soon seed.

To �let go� is not to cut myself off, it�s the realization I cant control another.

To �let go� is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To �let go� is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To �let go� is not to try to change or blame another, it�s to make the most of myself.

To �let go� is not to care for but to care about.

To �let go� is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To �let go� is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To �let go� is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes but to allow others to affect their destinies.

To �let go� is not to be protective, it�s to permit another to face reality.

To �let go� is not to deny, but to accept.

To �let go� is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To �let go� is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes, and cherish myself in it.

To �let go� is not to criticize and regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To �let go� is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

Your footsteps stop outside my door.
Suddenly, the door opens up.
I shake in terror in the dark
As you shove me violently down to the floor.

You start to yell at me,
Verbally abuse me.
Learning a long time ago not to talk back
I only listen, intimidated and terrified.

A sudden blow on my cheek interrupts my silent prayers
Another blow on my back
My tiny legs , my head, my neck.
Stop bashing me up!

I cry out, hurt and traumatized
In agony I howl.
The only thing I get in return is
Another strike for being too loud.

Help me, Mama.
Don't lie about my injuries.
Help me, Mama.
Take me away from this nightmare I'm in.

Mama is nowhere in sight
While her little boy is being slammed
Against the wall.
Where are you? Why aren't you helping me?

All I can hear is the sound of my own bone breaking.
I can taste blood in my mouth.
Daddy yanks me by my hair,
Dragging me down the stairs.

Help me, Mama,
Help me.

Under the light I can see my scars
My legs twisted
My black-and-blue arms
p My ears ringing.

I look around, whimpering
As Daddy cries out, "Shut up,
You bad boy! Neighbors will hear!"
I cut short, scared to death.

As I lie here on the cold floor
Who is to rescue me?
No more Mama's comforting hugs.
Oh, Mama, has he gotten you already?

The thought of living without you terrrifes me.
I start to cry loudly.
Knowing I have got to stop.
I bite my lips.

Too late,
Daddy comes back.
He is hurting me again,
He twists my little arm behind my back.

Mama.
Help me!

I slowly drift away
Everything seems so blurry and distant.
Maybe I am dying,
Maybe that will be better.

I wake up the next morning,
The sun shining on my face.
Doctor's face clouds with concern.
I nod as he asks if I'm okay.

But I'm not okay,
Daddy's there!
Instead of the angry face I saw last night,
He puts on a mask of happiness.

"I'm so glad you're awake!
Let's celebrate!"
The doctor pats me on the head
Walking away.

I try to call him, to ask him to come back
Desperately I try to say,
"Don't leave me alone with him."
But my lips are too sore and I cannot speak.

A short while later I am better...
Healthy enough to go home.
I plead the nurse with my begging eyes,
I am too scared to tell them what's going on,

I have no choice but to follow Daddy,
As he grabs my hand tightly, leading me away.
No, I want to stay!
Leave me alone!

I turn back, but nobody notices me,
My hurt and battered tiny body.
Returning back to where I was harmed
Back I go.