A Warrior's Child
by Frances Davis
You know that feeling
When you were in a store as a small child
And something caught your interest,
And lured you from your parent’s side?
As your attention is drawn away,
The warrior and leader of your life
Is walking away.
And when you raise your head,
Everything is suddenly a maze.
Your little kid head realizes
That all of you depends on that nurturing hand,
Guiding you past racks of dresses and shirts
Now towering over you like giant redwoods
You suddenly feel so small.
You walk one way and then another,
But nothing reminds you of where you were.
Of course nothing does.
You expected your warrior guardian to forge the path.
There was no need for you to remember your way
As long as you kept yourself near them.
But now you were alone.
Every stranger looks threatening
Without your leader to comfort you.
All the mannequins look ready to pounce
And all the racks loom over you like big waves
about to crash on the shore.
You slide to your knees and cry out
Cry for your knight to save you from the dungeon.
You cry until your eyes are puffy
And your blouse is wet
And you taste salt on your lips
Then a hand reaches down and scoops you up
Bouncing you slightly in their arms
It’s your warrior!
Here to save you!
You feel the world start to come back in order.
The monsters are retreating.
The store is suddenly brighter and happier.
When you were in a store as a small child
And something caught your interest,
And lured you from your parent’s side?
As your attention is drawn away,
The warrior and leader of your life
Is walking away.
And when you raise your head,
Everything is suddenly a maze.
Your little kid head realizes
That all of you depends on that nurturing hand,
Guiding you past racks of dresses and shirts
Now towering over you like giant redwoods
You suddenly feel so small.
You walk one way and then another,
But nothing reminds you of where you were.
Of course nothing does.
You expected your warrior guardian to forge the path.
There was no need for you to remember your way
As long as you kept yourself near them.
But now you were alone.
Every stranger looks threatening
Without your leader to comfort you.
All the mannequins look ready to pounce
And all the racks loom over you like big waves
about to crash on the shore.
You slide to your knees and cry out
Cry for your knight to save you from the dungeon.
You cry until your eyes are puffy
And your blouse is wet
And you taste salt on your lips
Then a hand reaches down and scoops you up
Bouncing you slightly in their arms
It’s your warrior!
Here to save you!
You feel the world start to come back in order.
The monsters are retreating.
The store is suddenly brighter and happier.