A precious Gift <br />Wrought by the tenderest of Hands: <br />Eyes that behold love in every face, <br />Too pure and ignorant of evil. <br />Little hands stretched out for airlifts; <br />Childish whirls, eruptions of laughter. <br />Feet that patter in delight <br />Unable to flee from brutes. <br />A precious Gift <br />Handled by the coarsest of hands: <br />Ruddy cheeks smothered with slaps, not kisses. <br />Frizzled hair matted with cruel blows, not caressed with a comb. <br />Crushing bear-hugs by spineless wrestlers. <br />Cherubic face powdered with chocolate disguise bruises <br />Ever-present lacerations blamed on the quirk of Nature. <br />A precious Gift <br />Treated as a burden: <br />Scores of injuries <br />Blind carers <br />A blood-splattered cot. <br />At last, <br />Eternal rest.<br /><br />Chukuemeka Akpe<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/innocence-lost-in-memory-of-baby-p/
