The letters in the china box

Letter one (seven year old self)

Dark skinned beauty
sitting so sweetly
with her pearly white teeth
draped so carefully in a polka-dotted dress
with an aura so clear and beautiful
you radiate pure innocence
your dreams are nothing but mere fantasies
white picked fences do not exist in your future
you will not be surrounded by love, instead
hate will be the stuffed animal you cling to
every night as you sob quietly into its
soft and plush belly.
Embrace your naivety now because
your fading future awaits you

Letter two (Father)

Dear Papa
I never truly knew
the meaning of love
but I knew hatred well
because it was nestled quietly
in your stormy eyes
your frowning lips
your wrinkled forehead
and your hunched shoulders
it was laced in your loud screams
discouraging words
forced encouragement
and mocking tone
you stain me with your white lies
leaving streaks of darkness
across my heart

I never truly knew love
but then again you never really showed me
any love.

Letter three (My present self)

I watch you as you
sneak down the stairs
your arms are loaded with your
tear soaked pillow cases
and your sweat drenched sheets.
you had another nightmare
you screamed, your trashed
you begged and you pleaded
but your words were so silent
because every-one slept through
your nightmare.
Their heads were softly caressing their beds
and their dreams sang sweet lullabies
to their plugged ears.

Tell me do you still pray for a different life?
Do you still aspire to shed your old self
and become a new selfish being?
Dear Koro... dreams are for the brave-hearted
you are still oh-so weak.