the barefoot child
golden curls bouncing in the wind
needing to be brushed, but kept untamed
riding her bicycle faster and faster
not caring who saw her or if she would fall
she ran around the neighborhood
no shoes maybe clothes
she was wild, she was free
she was called the barefoot child
the barefoot child who never went inside
she never got tired, she never got old
she played with bugs on the mountain
she drew with chalk and scooted her scooter
but when school started, the barefoot child was not welcome
put on shoes they said, brush your hair
don’t do anything that isn’t normal she was told
so the barefoot child obliged and was lost
she no longer went outside
she was no longer free
she did her homework and cared what people think
she stuck with the crowd not wanting to be seen
she was lost and couldn’t be found
she lost sight of the stars and who she really was
she kept her shoes on and brushed her hair
and the barefoot child was gone
and no one seemed to care
