psalm for the least of us

o, sad little shadow

o, little lost sheep —

motherless and aimless,

the spirits do not relent.

too young to know better:

little girl

with her hand through the fence

feeding demons.

tugging at your sweater,

nipping at your heels,

and everyone knows.

but you've not the heart to tell her

because her eyes get so big when they see you

and she doesn't understand

that she doesn't understand.