Upstairs Vibes

I have met eight year olds who are attention-starved and verbally neglected because the crack pipe in the basement withheld a solution to any conflict because the look in your eyes and broken smile wasn't enough you're screaming at them begging pleading "what did I do to deserve this?" "why is he more important?" "why am I not worthy of my own mother's love?" so battered and broken but you remain still and silent a fragile creature full of delicacy and joy yet so miraculously triumphant you are a lion surrounded by sheep you, my dear, are the resilient one withstanding the forces as they try to rip you from side to side "momma loves you" "are you my girl?" "what would you like to do today?" but you know you know that moments like this are a temporary fix to reassure herself that she is, indeed, playing the role of a mother you know that although you want to fall into her twenty minute love you cannot because all great things must come to an end but you, you are worth so much more an angel sent from the innumerable stars floating in space a flower growing pushing through the rugged ground that you were planted in you dig yourself out and bloom so gracefully fifty million in the world but none as fluorescent as you.