I know a little girl named Sally.

She is someone I’ve learned to care for.

She is not able to love herself,

with no one else to love her.

She is not a pretty child in the opinion of most.

She is a very frightened child.

She feels very lost.

She is used to being blamed.

They tell her she is dirty.

She feels very ashamed.

They tell her she is not worthy.

They tell her she lies.

She believes them.

They tell her she is not worth their love.

But I know they are wrong.

I believe her.

I love her.

She is worth my love.

She is very sad.

She is very lonely.

She is far from perfect,

but I still care.

She does not believe me.

I cannot blame her.

Just like them, I have been unfair.

I mistreated her.

I ignored her.

I was ashamed

that I knew her name.

I would not believe her.

I did not know her.

But now I know

she was not to blame.

I know a young lady named Salie.

She is as strong as I wish to be.

I love her too,

but only as much

as she will allow of me.

She is also afraid

and very alone,

but she is in control.

She does not allow vulnerability.

She is harder to get to know.

She will not be hurt

by what they say.

They can not hurt her anymore.

She does not deny her emotions

and watches closely the door.

She has learned to be patient,

-tolerant of pain.

She has learned to cry

and not to cry.

My only hope

is that she turns it to advantage.

I know she will try,

I will try.

She is willing to accept her past

as it is.

Though still, she is leery

as grasping a flame.

She is intent on healing,

still afraid, and still

struggling with who is to blame.

I know a woman named Sarah.

I have almost to whisper her name.

I am afraid the soft winds

that brought her here

will swiftly take her away.

She is so very beautiful.

All I hope to be.

So delicate and vulnerable.

Her soul- so very free.

She is a rebirth of innocence

with Gentle-age behind her eyes.

She is no longer afraid to be loved.

Her past she no longer denies.

She knows how to trust,

to trust with her heart.

I know little of her,

but we have a start.

She is beyond the pain

and not afraid to feel.

She looks with joy to the future.

She’s not afraid to be real.

I stand in awe of her,

a being of soul.

She is my hope for the future.

My hope to be whole.