Too Soon

4 years old just a child yourself, Mind stuck on the Little Mermaid, hopscotch, and bubblegum, Nothing else, Childhood cut short as your brother is born and thrown on to you, Yet you're still a little girl trying to take care of a baby, Not even knowing what to do, One year later your sister is born and Dad walks away, Why does it seem like you have become more of a mother than a sister everyday? Taking care of your brother and sister has become easier now, But mother doesn't know that it is your happiness she won't allow, Getting evicted and being homeless at the age of eight, Sometimes I had just wished my mom would think straight, Standing in church lines for food and unable to shower, Hoping that when I went to school that children didn't know it is me who smells so sour, Couple of years later you leave and go to Big Bear, No more stress and I now know the feeling of clean hair, Physical abuse, yes it is evident, but just get inside your head and pretend you're not there, Oh no, mother's back and claims she has changed, But why after all these years with her I felt as if I was in prison with ball and chain, Accused, abused, and put out, I slept in a car that night and got into an argument, not even knowing what about, But I'm away and smiling, I just didn't know that growing up was something that came extremely early, Now I'm aware that life can be beautiful and I am fully thriving.