Never trust a seeker,

until you know how they lived

How did they survive?

Little girl left alone,

Dad’s train delayed, Mom’s dead now.

Southern secret still!

Love’s around, yet missed.

‘Where has my family gone?’

‘Grandma? Auntie? Dad?’

Ignore feelings, thus

the pretense survives. All proud.

Must impress. Be good.

Go to church! Behave!

Feelings make you too subject

to ridicule, shame.

Then still one morning

aha, my spirit!

My righteous Mother.

Devoid of feelings,

going to church for show and tell.

The child survives still.

Trust your instinct! NO!

Yes, trust your instinct, you know!

Little girl, still lost.

Surviving her life,

never growing in her own.

Trust her life lesson

Do the work, or not.

Her soul’s black barrenness stays.

Go to church! Behave!