Ponine and Zelma playing there don’t even look my way,

As I sweep with my big broom, like every other day.

I don’t know how I got here but I know I dare not ask,

That means interrupting Master drinking from his flask.

Besides, he would not answer me; he’d only beat my hide,

As he’d yell and scream to fetch some water from outside.

I hate going to that well, especially in the dark,

It is not the place for me, a small and helpless lark.

Nonetheless, this very night, a bucket and I are sent,

I shiver as I walk; as I run is what I meant.

The heavy bucket weighs me down- I grip the little rod,

And suddenly it’s taken by the great big hand of God.

“That is very heavy for which you are carrying there,”

He says, my bucket in his hand, while I look up and stare.

We talk about the little things, my name and where I’m from,

He tells me that my master’s inn is where he’s like to come.

I lead him through the door once I take my bucket back,

If my mistress saw him with it she would give me such a smack.

The protection that I felt with the man has disappeared,

Because now I have returned to the ones I’ve always feared.

I silently return to the work that must be done,

But I look up at the girls because their doll looks like such fun.

The man and my mistress talk of something I don’t know,

But then he kindly tells me to go play, not to sew.

Amazed and unbelieving I pick up my little sword,

Until I notice that the great big doll has not been stored.

I look around the inn, no one’s looking over here,

So I pick up the nice lady and put down my tiny spear.

I rock the baby doll to sleep, I’m happy as can be,

But then Ponine tells her maman and there’s no hope for me.

Thénardiess just calls my name and I begin to cry,

The old man cannot intervene; I see that he will try.

But then this man walks through the door and I receive two blows:

One physical, one in my heart, because away he goes.

A sudden movement at this door fills me with awe and glee,

Because I see before my eyes: the man!  But who is she?

The woman that my monsieur holds, I’ve seen her in a dream,

I watch her in the windowsill when I go to the stream.

Young girls have pleaded for this doll, Ponine and Zelma, too,

So I cannot believe it when I hear, “This is for you.”

I run and hide in fear of what Thénardiess will say,

But she smiles with her fangs, so I take the doll away.

Catharine I call her, she’s as pretty as a queen,

And I play with her through glares from poor Zelma and Ponine.

Then I am sent off to bed, I bring my lady, too,

With her asleep right next to me, I am no longer blue.

As I drift into my rest I think about monsieur,

And how if I could leave this house, it’s him I would prefer.

Next morning I am woken by my mistress and her calling,

I find poor Catharine on the ground; I get to her by crawling.

Then master sends me to the room, the room with the kind man,

The man tells me to dress myself as quickly as I can.

I then put on the frock and coat, the whole outfit in black,

Ponine comes in and looks at me and her whole jaw goes slack.

I’m pleased with that reaction, so I take my doll and leave,

In my new black things I feel like I’m supposed to grieve.

As I take the nice man’s hand, I don’t grieve my past life,

I know that I will never miss the old man and his wife.

The goodman’s presence calms me and I see the world brand new,

It’s almost as if I forget the things that I’ve been through.

We walk the streets, this God and me, until we hitch a ride,

The cabriolet takes us to a street; it is not very wide.

The journey takes us miles away; I know not where we are,

All I know is in the sky I see a shooting star.

I do not say a word, but I’m surely slowing down,

So monsieur lifts me in his arms as we go into town.

I snuggle with my lovely doll, the one he got for me,

And I can’t help but think that this is where I’m meant to be.

When I jolt myself awake, all that happened seems a dream,

As I’m looking for my little broom, I nearly start to scream.

Then my friend is there for me, holding my Catharine tight,

He tells me to simply go and play, and today, I just might.