Foster Child Poem by louis rams

Foster child

DESTINY was a foster child soft spoken, gentle
Intelligent and with a smile, respectful and never wild.
Many couples came to take her home, but with the other siblings
She could not be left alone.
They felt threatened because of her looks, charms and school grades
And their lives would never be the same.
All she ever wanted was a loving family where she could be a
Member and live comfortably and have others that she could
Call Mother, Father, Sister and Brother and with them she
Would need no other.
Like every child the question would always come into their minds
Why did my mother abandon me? What did I do wrong?
This is not where I belong!
But she had faith and hope that things would change, for
Nothing ever stays the same.
Her strength and faith gave hope to all the others that
She called sisters and brothers.
Then on Thanksgiving day this childless couple decided
To stop, because they always talked about seeking to adopt.
They rang the doorbell to the childrens home.

The children all thought: now who could this be?
Most people are with their families!
Sister Ann got up and went and opened the door
And there stood this couple'
Hi! I'm sister Ann and we was about to sit down for dinner
Please come in and join us and get out of the cold.
Thank you! I am Bill Burns and my wife Jill!
As they joined them at the table sister Ann introduced Destiny.
"She is the den mother of the other four and has been here
Two years or more."
For the children up to six of age- this is the first stage.
If none of them are adopted by the age of eight, then they go
To the main gate.
The main gate is eight and older and adoption may get much colder.
Bill and Jill asked sister Ann if they could speak with her privately

Sister ANN we wanted to meet Destiny after hearing so much
About her and we have no children that she would have a problem with.
Sister Ann responded: " well at this point I think you should speak
With Destiny and get to know her"
She called Destiny over and left them to talk.
As the Burns sat at the table Destiny walked in with her flowing
Brown hair and eyes to match and a smile you couldn't help but catch.
Hi Destiny! I'm Bill Burms and this is my wife Jill!
We have a small farm with corn fields, two horses and about one hundred chickens which we feed our corn kernals and then I gather up some
Of the corn, eggs and some of the chickens and sell them at the farmers market. " we want to adopt you "
Destiny looked at them with a sadness in her eyes and said:
" all my life all I ever wanted was a forever home, but I have
A family of four who look up to me and I can't abandon them "
" I'M SORRY "with tears in her eyes she got up and walked away.

The Burns went back to the dinner table and they all ate in silence.
When the Burns were leaving they stopped and asked sister Ann.
" why would a ten year old girl give up her dream?
Sister Ann replied: when you have the heart of an angel
It comes a little easier "
The Burns went back home and talked about what they saw and heard
Until the early morning and how they so wanted Destiny to be part
Of their family.
When they awoke they called the mother superior at main gate
With a lot of questions and options about adoptions.
Two weeks later they was back at stage one to speak with sister Ann
Destimy and the other four saw them when they arrived and wondered
What was going on.Was they going to force Destiny to go with them?
They was in the office for about two hours and finally came out calling
All the children to the dining room table.
The children sat waiting for the bomb to explode about the decision.
Sister Ann spoke abot how the Burns wanted to adopt Destiny
But Destiny refused to leave them alone as they were all her family.
So a decision has been made by mother superior and the Burns
To not break you up, but to make all of you a part of the Burns family.
All of you are being adopted by the Burns family.
Destiny looked at the other four as the tears rolled down her cheeks
Then Marylou, Barbra, missy, and little Bobby ran and hugged Destiny
Saying you never gave up your faith in GOD and that we would
All find a forever home and now we will all share the same name.

It took about a month for all the legal paperwork to be completed
And the Burns were there every night spending time with them
And talking about the farm and the horses that they could even ride.

Destiny learned that with Faith, Hope and Love most anything
Can be achieved if you only believe.
© L. RAMS 031719