A laugh, a yell
Embarrassed and small
A child learns
To be quiet not bawl
A tickle, a touch
A silent tear falls
A child hides
Deep in a world behind walls
A smile, a trick
A hard hand and fist
A child’s innocence
No longer exists
The hardship, the pain
The sadness ingrained
The child we were
Remaining in chains
To break from our bondage
We step to the fore
We raise our heads high
And we hide no more