my body, a bank
of broken toys
carrying the noise
of childhood

playing hard
no stretch too far
running barefoot
from wrath so fast
when broken glass
caught my toes
keeping up
with those

needing proof
of my worth
they only wanted
to play war
so topsy turvy
when children score

so I cut the hair
off all my dolls
prepared myself
for future falls

Until fireflies
came to share
their light
each day and night
they flanked
my fears
Each notch
I gained
a fortune banked