A Young Child Poem by BRUCE MARTONE

SHE WAS A YOUNG CHILD
FORCE TO LIVE IN THE STREETS
THE PRICE SHE PAYS
FOR BEING WILD
WITH A EVERY STRANGER SHE MEETS
AND GIVING THEM WHAT THEY WANT
IF THEY MEET HER COST
AND IF THEY DON'T
THAN THEY CAN GET LOST
AND IF THEY DO
THAN A TREAT
IF THEY BRING HER BACK
IN ONE PIECE
AND THAT GOES THROUGH THE NIGHT
UNTIL THE MORNING LIGHT
THAN SHE CALLS IT QUITS
AND HEAD TO THE ALLEY
WHERE SHE SLEEPS
DREAMING ABOUT PLEASANT VALLEY
WHERE SHE GREW UP WITH HER OLD MAN
UNTIL THINGS GOT HARD
AND HE LOST HIS JOB
AT THE LUMBER YARD
SO HE SENDS HER
TO HIS MOTHER TO LIVE
BUT SHE RUN AWAY
FINDING HER OWN WAY TO SURVIVE
WHICH SHE CHOOSES THE STREETS
AT FIRST A YOUNG CHILD
IS NOW A YOUNG WILD LADY
IS NOW IN A HOSPITAL BED
WITH A BULLET IN HER HEAD
THE PRICE SHE PAID
FOR WANTING TO DO
THE WRONG GUY
WHO DIDN'T WANT TO GET LAID
AS HE MADE SURE
SHE WOULDN'T BE DOING THAT AGAIN
BECAUSE THE DOCTOR CALL IT THE END