Katie's Day

 Once she was a princess, her smiles could draw a crowd

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.