My heroes have always
been little girls
the ones who have to
put themselves to bed
cuz their mamas passed
out stoned on the couch
the ones with hands
clenched between their knees
at the counseling sessions
cuz the perpetrators got off
for doing as they pleased
the ones who scream and cry
and throw teddy bears
at their very daddys
cuz he can't seem to stop
plowing his wife with fists
the ones who read books
at the dinner tables
while the grownups yak
cuz they've got their own
little girl thoughts to think
the ones who reach
for me and give me hugs
at the end of our first
night to meet
cuz they recognize
the survivor
little girl in me
copyright 2007 tammy melody gomez
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7 comments:
Sad but beautiful poem,Tammy.
Thanks for coming down and performing on the border today. I think my 8th grade students will really react to "manslaughter". I think I will see if they can turn the poem back into a news item. Thanks again, powerful...dig your dreams too...I wouldn't dare expose my bare psyche on-line. You, however, are a bold woman. Cheering you on, toward your goal of 365 in 365.
Thanks RC.
Thanks Paulette.
My first trip to the Rio Grande Valley
was very fulfilling. Hope to be back
in Kingsville/McAllen/Edinburg
sometime soon.
i think this is my favorite of the series so far.
Gracias, Ken. In Kingsville, I met 8-year old Maya, and she is a formidable survivor & brilliant young student as well. Reminded me of a certain 13-year old I know here in FW. Then all of a sudden, I knew I had to write somethin' for them....
A very powerful poem. I told my daughter one day that she was my hero. She was shocked, I think. She is so powerful and resilient that I marvel at it. Every little girl should have someone like that in their life, whether it is a dad or a sister or a kick-ass poet like you.
Would that every little girl would see herself as a hero!
I will share with my sisters and my daughters and I hope they will believe your words.
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