WAR CRY (ROOFTOP RHYTHMS PERFORMANCE PIECE)

WAR CRY

SHE WAS CRUISIN’, JETTIN’, RUNNIN’ FROM HER DEMONDS

FLYIN’ HIGH ON THAT THING

THAT GAVE HER BUTTERFLIES AND TICKLED HER SPINE

LACED WITH A TICK TICK TICKING TIME BOMB

OF A TEMPER

THAT SHE WOULD OFTEN SLAM INTO

LIKE A BRICK WALL

HER FACE WOULD HIT THAT PALM SO HARD

SHE COULDN’T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY ANYMORE

IT HAPPENED SO MUCH SO IT WAS LIKE

HER SKIN WAS MADE OF LEATHER

BUT SHE KNEW HIS LOVE WAS GNEUINE

SO THIS PAIN WOULDN’T LAST FOREVER, RIGHT?

THE TEARS WOULD GUSH

WITH THE FORCE OF A WATERFALL

FROM THE ALMOND SHAPED SPACES ABOVE HER NOSE

AND ON OCCASION SHE FOUND HERSELF

PATIENTLY AWAITING THE STINING PRESSURE OF THE BLOWS

A REGULAR THING

SHE WALKED ON EGGSHELLS

HER STEPS WERE CIRCUMSPECT

TRYING TO REMAIN ALERT

SO AS NOT TO SET OFF ANY LAND MINES

SHE WENT INTO BATTLE EVERY DAY

AND EVERY NIGHT SHE PRAYED

THAT SOMEONE WOULD HEAR HER WAR CRY

BUT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT NO ONE HEARD

THE CRIES OF LITTLE GIRLS

WHO CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW HOUSE RULES

AND DIDN’T LIKE TO HEAR THE WORD NO

A GIRL WHO PACKED A BAG ONE NIGHT

AND SLIPPED OUT HER BEDROOM WINDOW

READY TO BRAVE A LIFE LIVING ON THE STREET

AND WHEN THAT GOT TOO HARD

QUICK TO ACCEPT SHELTER FROM

THE FIRST LOW LIFE CREEP SHE MET

NO ONE LISTENED WHEN SHE

BEGGED THE CREATOR TO HELP HER

FIND HERSELF AGAIN

LOST IN FEAR, LOST IN LIES

LOST IN A WORLD OF ISOLATION THAT HE BUILT

ATTEMPTING TO PLOT AN ESCAPE

BUT OFTEN RECEIVING A FORCEFUL REMINDER

THAT SHE HAD NO WAY OUT

THE TRICKERY OF HER MIND

HAD HER ALWAYS TRYING

TO RECTIFY AND JUSTIFY IN ORDER TO SOLIDIFY

HER SAFETY

SHE CONVINCED HERSELF THAT SHE WAS

WELL TAKE CARE OF

ROOF OVER HER HEAD, FOOD ON HER TABLE

NO NEED TO LEAVE

BUT WHEN HER DAILY INTERACTION

WAS SERVED UP WITH A FEW PUNCHES, SLAPS, AND KICKS

FOLLOWED BY HURTFUL WORDS

THAT ROLLED OFF HIS TONGUE WITH EASE

AND RANG IN HER EARS LIKE THE BELLS OF A CHURCH TOWER

SHE KNEW THE END WAS NEAR

SHE HEARD THE WEIGHT OF HIS FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

AND BRACED HERSELF FOR THE ATTACK

SHE FELT THE PRESSURE OF HIS FISTS POUNDING AND POUNDING

SHE SAW THE SPRAY FROM HER BLOODY BODY

BOUNCING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT

AS HER LIFE FLASHED BEFORE HER EYES

IN HER LAST BREATH SHE QUESTIONED

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME

CAN ANYONE HEAR MY WAR CRY

KEEP HER SECRET

She asked me to keep her secret

But how could I

Knowing that keeping it wouldn’t solve anything

She broke down in tears

Talking about the hurtful words

That sting just as hard as

The lash of a belt across her skin

The words that leave deeper scars

Than the temporary welts from

Whatever device was quickest to grab

She told me that it had been discussed before

Promises were made to try and do better

However those promises fade

After a few days

After a few weeks

A thing of the past when problems arise

And her name seemed to be the only one

On the tip of the tongue to take the blame

She was told that the similarities were

The cause of the abrasive way in which

She was addressed at times

Rough like sand paper these words were

Tearing away at her

Chipping off chunks of her heart

Leaving her in doubt

As to weather she was even loved

Making her question why she was even

In existence

She asked me to keep her secret

But how could I

Knowing that this situation would

Get worse before it could get better

I make an attempt to bless her

With some insight as to how

She can overcome this demon

I explain that she will never be able

To fix another human being

However, it is within her power

To fix herself

To break the cycle

She asked to visit the sanctuary

And I complied without hesitation

She requested my support

In approaching the alter and

I stood firm with a hand on her shoulder

As the tears trailed down her face

Listening to the pastor telling her

He loves you

You are loved

And it matters not what anyone

Says from this day forth

She dedicated her life to God

I knew she would be covered and protected

So it didn’t matter how many hurtful words

Cut through her like a knife

Or how many times her name was

On the tip of someone’s tongue

To take the blame for something

I knew that even if I wasn’t by her side

Watching, guiding, and inspiring

She was protected

And that secret would soon come to light

The hardest part will be when

This hurtful individual realizes

They are missing out on knowing

This amazing little girl

They made a negative mark on her slate

That she would now have to erase

Luckily, she won’t have to do it alone

He follows all his children

Even through the darkest of storms

I know without a doubt

He has His hands on her!