The Girl Next Door

There used to be a girl next door
She’d sit her windowsill
And brushing her doll’s hair
Over
And over
And over again
Small cross clutched tightly in her fingers
Big eye’s aglow with hope as she stared at the beautiful pictures
Of angels playing
Of children praying
Of river’s turning to blood
Of “Him” being beaten
Scorned
Murdered
But she smiles
Because she “knows” it’ll be okay.
That girl is gone now.

There used to be a girl next door
She’d sit in her windowsill
And sketch in her note book
Page
After page
After page
Small cross dangling between her fingers
Eye’s confused as she read the words
Of people praising
Of “Him” saving
Of ocean’s being parted
Only to fall
To crush
To kill
But she nods
Because she think’s it’ll be okay.
That girl is gone now

Now there’s a girl next door
She sits in her widow sill
And talks on the phone
Laughing
Then crying
Then laughing again
Small cross thrown carelessly under her bed
Eyes angry as she reads “the word”
The “only word”
Of “love they neighbor”
But only if they’re like you
Of hate no one
But only if they’re normal
Of “He” will forgive all
As long as you recognize that what you’ve done is a “sin”
And she cries
Because she has no idea if it’ll be okay
That girl is all that’s left.