Safe

When i was little

My hidey hole

Was a special place

Where i was safe

From all the pain

And yelling and hitting

i couldn't stop

And curled up there

What i hoped was real

And a shining knight

All brave and fierce

(Me!)

Would save the day

From evil wizards and

Fiery dragons

That made the world

Unsafe for kids

The years passed

And I grew up

And learned the adult world had no place

For fantasies and hidey holes

So, unneeded

I shed them like

An old, used skin

And got on with the real, important work

Of life

But the hitting, screaming

Angry pain

Never, ever went away

And one day I saw

In my children's eyes

The fear and hurt

I knew from mine

Filled with horror

i fled back

To my hidey hole

All snug and safe

And as i lay there

Night after night

i imagined (other) shining knights

Who, brave and fierce

Would save the day

From evil wizards

And monstrous beasts

And hurting people

Just like me