the park was alone
the slides, the swings
never whispered
your deep dark secret

“Hush little baby don’t you cry”

tattoos of ‘unconditional’ love
your silent bruises
told everyone a story
but our eyes never listened

“Hush little baby don’t say a word”

your laughter now
an angel’s echo
row, row, rowing through the clouds
in God’s garden

“Mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird”

a storm of blood-stained
feathers
rushing through
naked branches
the park speaks up
a thunder
your lonely plea