Once
she had a voice to speak, once her prayers were loud.
Once
we packed a suitcase, placed it by the door
Sat
on it to shut inside and speak of this no more.
Scuffed
shoes sitting safe on top,
Once
she thought to run,
Once
she walked with confidence as ‘the pretty one’.
But
when will it be Katie’s day? When will she emerge?
Through
the love she strives to know, Is she still unheard?
Once
she was the worst of all, once the favoured one,
Once
she wondered who she was before this had begun.
Once
she wondered what she did,
Causing
all this pain
Once
she felt mistreated, but soon accepted blame.
When
will it be Katie’s day? Will she ever flee?
Will
she meet the lovely girl she was made to be?
Once
she thought she couldn’t leave
Who
could change her mind?
Who
could show her heart was made -
To
beat without confines?
Once
she thought her life would end
In
this space and time
So she
decided not to dream
Beyond
the ties that bind.
But
I am not content to sit beside
And
watch her waste away,
So I
will be a voice for her
To pray
for Katie’s day.