Since I Was Five

Since I Was Five Life was cruel, Neglect and ridicule, Home and school, I lived by the rule That I was miniscule And became a fool. I tried to hide Somewhere outside, Vast and wide, I had no guide, My spirit had died But I never cried. A path was made Neatly laid With darkened braid, The ominous shade I found, I stayed Silent and afraid. Ahead, was a stream, How it did gleam Of carp and bream, But only a dream It would seem, Somewhere to scream. Then I saw hell In a wishing well And in, I fell, I wanted to yell "I remember the spell" But there was no-one to tell. So I stayed as a child, Loveless and wild, Wreckless and defiled, I was exiled Yet naïvely beguiled But never smiled. On dreams I'd fly Like pie the sky, Carefree and high, Never asking why If I should laugh or cry, Live or die. Since I was five I learned to thrive, To duck and dive, Hoping to be alive When love would arrive, But I didn't survive. © RJVHorton2015