Little China Girl

Little China Girl


My beautiful China White
keeps me awake at night-
gives me the reason to breathe,
gives me the means to bleed.

She was eyes wide, legs crossed-
looking up at him from the floor.
A precious school girl lullaby,
nodding off once at the door.

Shoestrings double looped
tied tight around her wrists-
spare spoon kept in her pocket,
box of matches in her fists.

She was nineteen and beautiful-
too strong to feel the pain.
Naïve and she felt wonderful
everything was still the same.

Lips chapped and matted hair-
bubble gum wrappers and cloths with tears.
Stick figure and paper thin skin,
hollow cheeks and empty bottles of gin.
Open wounds and oozing scabs-
runny nose with tiny eyes that sagged.

In her soft low voice kept humming her sweetest lullaby,

My beautiful China White
keeps me awake at night-
gives me the reason to breathe,
gives me the means to bleed.

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