Creative Corner: Poetry by Ritual Abuse Survivors	Ritual Abuse, Ritual Crime and Healing

 

The Little Match Girl

I am the Little Match Girl
I am the Little Prince.
I am Peter Rabbit and there are

too many Farmer Browns.
I am the Little Match Girl.
I am the Little Prince
I am B'rer Rabbit and you

won't throw me away.

These ancient ties that bind,
These family traditions
These empty words and chains

of shame and obligation.
These ancient ties that bind,
These family traditions
These rituals and joyless chores,

and Things That We Must Do.

Your convenient memory says that
You were there yesterday &
You will be tomorrow but

never when I need you.
Your convenient memory says that
You were there everyday but
You weren't there any way

that really counted.

"I am better than my Father" and
"I don't act like Mother" and
"I am better than them, you

should be grateful."
"I am better than my Father" and
"I don't act like Mother: and
"You act just like them, that's

why I struck you."

So many empty, empty years,
So many sterile kisses.
So many chances for you to do

what you should have done.
So many empty, empty years,
So many sterile kisses.
So many unmet promises and pledges

marked by you as paid.

Ref:
Olly Olly Oxenfree
All Fall Down
You'll be sorry when I'm gone.
One day soon I will be free,
Timor Mortis Cotourbat Me.

• Bob King, 1995

 

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