A Little Child Stands in Line

A little child stands in line
waiting for her turn
as the night goes on
For she can hear the screams
from the dormitory next door
Knowing her turn is next
as it was always the same as before

As she waits she thinks
of so many things
What wrong have I done
to be treated this way
Dear Jesus and Mary
look down on your child
take her away with you
for she had no where to hide

She is but a child with
no love or care
So if you can see her
for she is always here

My life is not mine
nor is my soul
I am but a number
is what I was told
I can not see
for the tears in my eyes
Why do they thrash me
with so much hatred
That I see in their eyes

I am hurting from
the bad words they say
Which are still with me
and wont go away
You are so bold
and a simpleton they said
You have bad blood in you
and I was so scared

The Nazareth House nuns
told me every day
I had my mothers sins in me
so I would go away to pray

To Jesus and Mary
whom I asked to take me away

What wrong have I done
is what she should have said
For she knew the question
would be answered with a thrashing
so she did not ask as she cried instead

And as the days turned into night
the abuse still went on
For the nuns did not care
about the torment and pain she was in

She was just a child

with no beginning who held everything within

So most nights
the little child stands in line
waiting for her turn
to go into that room
for she did not know
why she was beaten
and thrashed across the bed

This little child stands in line
As she waits and prays
to Jesus and Mary
Hoping the nuns will not
put her across the bed
as she things to herself

If only there was some one

who cared for this little child

who stands in line
and she is so very scared

Copyright@ 1997 Ann Thompson

All Rights Reserved