They pull my hair.
They tug at my clothes.
They poke and nudge and push.

And on my boat
I rock and I roll;
My body melts to mush.

I'm nothing.
I'm gone,
And I disappear so they cannot see

The tears
And the bruises--
All the pain this is causing me.

My heart turns to glass
And falls to the floor,
Shattering to its end.

I try to pick up the pieces,
But they slice through my fingers.
My heart I cannot mend.

I am older now.
Those days are behind me.
I have a family now.

I met a man with gloves
To pick up the shards
And wipe blood and sweat from my brow.

But when I think all is gone
And I am at peace
With my lovely family,

My daughter comes home.
Tear stains on her cheeks
And cuts on her fingers I see.