I remember that little doll

Up there on the shelf

That tiny gold buddha 

That took me somewhere else

 

Once I saw that little man

So calm and full of peace

I found serenity on my own

With much more ease

 

Unlike home

It was much more quiet

No yelling,  no shouting

Never such a riot

 

Withou the screaming and the yelling

Of you and my mother falling out of love

I didn't have to think about the childhood

That I was being deprived of

 

I always felt safer at Grandma's

Especially after I knew

You stopped loving me 

Even though I still loved you

 

The peace that this trinket brought me

Was more than you ever did

For me and my sisters

When we were still learning to be a kid

 

Between mom always working

And you always drinking 

The picture of a big, happy family

Was very quickly sinking

 

Grandma's house was my safe place

To get away from you

Her and that tiny gold Buddha 

(Almost) made me feel brand new

 

And I'm almost sorry to a younger me

But I learner and grew so much

From the screaming and yelling

And your not-so-gentle touch

 

So thank you to Grandma

And that little Buddha doll

For making me feel safe

After everything I saw

 

Now it's been a few years since we've spoken

But you're free from jail now, that cold case

So you moved back to Billings, and once again

Grandma's house became my safe place