Little Girl Lost

She hides in the cloakroom behind the coats and sweaters
Scared to be alone, yet unable to join with the others
A lost little girl with no where to go
She wipes away a tear with the back of her hand
And prays for a haven to feel safe from all harm and pain
Yet is will be years she will hide in this room
Though in the middle of life she might be
You still could find her hiding away
For the pain is still there from the beatings
And the feeling of never be "good enough" to be loved
She still hears the voices of so long ago
"You're willful", "You're sinful" and "Selfish to all"
No matter how hard to be perfect she has tried to be
A "good wife",  A "good mother" and "good girl"
This is what voices deep inside chant "You'll never be good"
So you might as well give up trying. 
Yet she keeps up trying to learn to love herself.
Who knows where this story will end?

This poem was written because of Peggy Main.  She was my counselor
who taught me I could go to  a safe place and find the little girl I had lost
and give her the love she always hungered for.  When first I found her
she was 3 or 4 years old, dirty, straggly hair and wearing hand me downs far too big for her.  She was shy and wary and didn't trust anyone close
to her.  She didn't smile and I was surprised she even let me find her.
But somewhere in her soul there was a spark of strength and faith
that allowed me to talk to her.  Over the years she has become open and loving and doesn't even look like the same little girl.

Little Girl Found

Little girl lost has now been found
She feels loved and accepted
I see her so clearly
With long blonde curly hair
And blue eyes that shine
She wasn't always this way
But today she has regained  her innocence
And her pain and loneliness kissed away
I'm glad that I found her
To protect and love
For now she can love herself and trust life
Her love for others has returned
And she need not be afraid
She can share her love with others
And bask in the love flowing back to her
Welcome home little girl
For myself I have found in you.

                Lynda Leigh (c)

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