Freeing The Little Child Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Climbing the mountain of sexual abuse, going to the top to
survey the ruins of childhood, needing a patient friend to
walk alongside, giving support when needed, when past
memories become too much alone.

Afraid at every step to see what lies beyond the next
boulder, looking into eyes of encouragement, biting her lips
and continuing upward.

Delicate issues of a toddlers abuse, prey upon a desert of
incest, casting dusty gray shadows in the wake of remembering.

Hanging on for dear life to the side of mountainous cliffs,
as images crawl up and over, staring into memory's eyes.

Disgust, physically manifests itself causing her to get sick
to her stomach, horrible memories, haunting her mind as she
continues climbing, wanting to face the reality of past abuse,
doing it reluctantly.

Mirrors, millions of mirrors, reflecting again and again in
each other, showing the tortures of abuse manifested upon
this once tiny child.

Having climbed only one fourth of the way to the top,
hesitating, afraid, doubts creeping into her mind, voices
taunting, you're never going to make it, you will fall into
the pit of hell, unable to deal with the rest of it.

Pushing herself through the barrier with help, freeing the
little child, disconnecting her from the painful memories,
physical and mental.