Little lost girl

 You pushed her away when her hands were tiny

and wanted to cup your face,

when her eyes sought answers and love within your eyes.

you pushed her away when she needed the hugs that would shield her

from the fearsome world and  laughing peers 

she sought your hands to hold her and tell her all was well, you were never found

you told her her younger ones were prettier and better,

so she became anxious and sought solace in peers and moved rootlessly,

like a nomadic fulani during the rainy season. 

She never knew your hugs, just your beatings

she never saw you smile, just your mockery

she sought for mothers in strangers and fathers in lovers

but they all failed

she fought to live and won

and now you want to hug her and she recoils 

now you want to talk and she shuts herself from you

now you want the woman after killing the girl

She will always be the little lost girl, all alone, trying to find her way in the scary world