I watch my fathers beautiful bride, grow an ugly disposition,

as sickness came knocking stealing his love away and its

just the two of us I feel the menace in her gaze the jealousy

in her touch the threat in her words and l run, into the world l

have never seen, into poverty and hunger looking for a home.

I hid in an empty home, exhausted I sleep only to be woken

surrounded by a roomful of noisy men, black from the mines.

Fear beat faster my heart filling my ears, I calmed they quietened

an arrangement was made, I learned to clean, to be wild, to be free.

 

-s.j.duncan-