A Badge of Rhyme

by Marjorie N. Cocjin

I have a story, deep within my heart
About a girl who wonders, (as all girls do)
On how to move (oh, how to start!)
towards greatness, immortality--
What to do. A little clue?

Not a fan of rationality,
I want it now! Greatness now!
Jack of Trades mentality
No one cares about the how

I want to show it, while I'm young
Applause for me, the little child!
I'll leave you at the bottom rung
Up on high, a little wild.

Cough, cough, snicker snicker,
all you say is boy, come hither,
grab a horse and ride away
no one's here to save your day.

Her finger glides along the sill,
Dust settles on the skin and still,
A surface, smooth is all she knows
A tickle here, she blows her nose.

Stains do fade, a lewd girl dies
A painful breath, and great goodbyes
To sleepless girls who say they dream
We close our eyes and fly, They scream.

This bed is thick with land and notebooks
(scribble, scribble, cough and scribble)
A leaded stick, a sketch of outlooks
Her valued brick of sand and scrapbooks
(smudge and scribble, they belittle)

It's been that way since she was little.

Scattered there and under, lips are fair,
Tangled hair. A pretty mess, that evening dress
The house is silent, no one's there.

A great idea, her dormant mind
The shadow moves, it's just behind
She turns and calls, Come out my friend.
Faceless fears won't be her end.

Power, it is. They whisper. Find it,
who you are. Bind it, who you'll be.
Seek it out and then be free.
Pursue one thing to eternity.

And then, they say, a sweet caress
You'll find your life is far from less

They'll sing of one whose lips are fair
Who told us once, she will be there

Among the trees, on every page
The girl who broke our golden cage
You'll be the sweet one, yes you are,
Who never meant to go that far

And yet you did, you silly mind
A greater toast, to all your kind!
For it is you who cannot rest
Until the day has been its best

And then you fade as all things do
The world can't do a thing for you
But you shall live beyond your time
One honored by the badge of rhyme.

Started: October 5, 2009
Finished: October 13, 2009