A Carnation & A Number

She should be swinging at the park and jumping in the leaves

Instead tears are streaming down her face as she hugs her knees

She should be in a classroom saying ABCs and counting 123s

Instead she’s pleading for her life, saying, “Let me go home please”

Streaks of blue and red cascade the streets this solemn night

Cops comb every inch of town the little girl nowhere in sight

She should be having sweet dreams while sleeping in her own bed

Instead she’s in a cold basement and not once has she been fed

She should be held tight by her mom and protected by her dad

Instead she’s been kidnapped by a man for something very bad

Adjusting to the darkness which now completely engulfs her

There’s a quiet noise to her left and right a whimper and a whisper

Seven pairs of eyes meet hers as the shadow unfurls

Including her the bad man has taken 8 innocent little girls

She should be playing with her friends in the house in the backyard tree

Instead she’s covered in dust and grime and her hair is knotted and messy

The descent of boots loud on the stairs and creak of the basement door

The bad man and his friends send fear and chill to her very core

Soon their wrists and ankles have been chained and they’re forced into a line

This young girl comforts the youngest of the 8 saying, “We’re gonna be fine”

She should be sitting and praying at church in the front most pew

Instead she’s lost and in big trouble of which she has no clue

Each girl is undressed and redressed by scary and strange men

A quick prayer quietly escapes her lips and then she says amen

Now all 8 of them are clean and fit for their presentation

And behind ear girl’s ear is placed a fresh carnation

Now each girl has a number and are addressed as such

While the big men with fat wallets and sick minds are longing for a touch

These rich men will pay thousands for innocent little girls so fair

Simply tiny trophies to be used and abused then tossed aside without care

The last little girl who’s been reduced to a number, 8,

Forced to climb up the platform steps and wait

As the bidding begins she sets her jaw and holds her head high

Determined not to give up and have a chance to live her life

A shout echoes throughout the room saying, “Sold for ¼ of a $ million”

Tension now smothers her and despite the heat, her heart is stilling

Her jaw drops open, she can’t breathe and slumps to the ground

The last glimmer of hope died when she knew she’d never be found

She should be turning 10 in August with a birthday that was gonna be swell

Instead she’s lying underground buried before last year’s snow fell

They found her body in a muddy field covered in a ghostly white sheet

Pale as porcelain with broken feet

Someone else’s skin beneath her nails

Branded with bruises and poorly healed scars, her lifeless form seemed frail

Dressed in a weathered red slip tattered and torn

Tis such a shame to lose such innocence with skin no longer warm

The detective who discovered her knew she’d been kidnapped by a ring

Now for the lost innocence of this girl only the angels sing