7 Words: IT SHOULDN'T HURT TO BE A CHILD

I came across this poem today and it spoke volumes to me. As a child advocate, it is so very important to me to constantly get the word out that children have rights and need to be respected just as adults. The number of cases involving children who are being abused both physically and mentally are alarming. Are we doing our part to stop violence against children? Are we advocating for children?

Ask yourself: Have you hugged a child today?

Black And Blue

© J.D



Sitting alone under the night sky so black,
Nobody knows what she's holding back,
Pulling her sleeves past the black and blue,
Once these bruises fade they'll come back anew.

Looking up at the stars so high,
Sometimes she wishes she could melt into the sky,
Out of her eye drops a single tear,
As she realizes she has to face her worst fear.

At the thought of home she shutters,
And a prayer for help she mutters,
Her angry father's face shakes in her head,
And her broken heart fills with dread.

The front door creaks as she steps inside,
Jumping over beer bottles she runs to hide,
Sliding under her bed she tries not to make a sound,
Too late: the floor creaks as she touches the ground.

She tries to hold back the tears, he hits her harder when she cries,
But they slip out as the heavy steps get closer, she's terrified,
The door slams open, the pain is about to come,
Her dad's clothes smell like smoke and rum.

He lifts her up by a chunk of her hair,
Taking the first punch he begins to swear,
She cries for help, but it's to late,
He won't stop till he's got out all the hate.

A daily routine, but tonight it's not the same,
Tonight the end of the beating never came,
A few hours later the ambulance arrives,
Her life is over at the age of 5. Follow @NickiesNiche