the park was alone

the slides, the swings

never whispered

your deep dark secret

“Hush little baby don’t you cry”

tattoos of ‘unconditional’ love

your silent bruises

told everyone a story

but our eyes never listened

“Hush little baby don’t say a word”

your laughter now

an angel’s echo

row, row, rowing through the clouds

in God’s garden

“Mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird”

a storm of blood-stained
feathers

rushing through

naked branches

the park speaks up

a thunder

your lonely plea