In tattered clothes

with dirty faces

they come to you

their bodies battered

their psyches bruised

they mistrust all that is new

you are not

their mother

their father

and at least at home

they knew what to expect

it’s unfamiliar ground

they are so small

in the huge world

surrounding them

they scream in the dark

they wet their pants

and cry steadily about

an unknown past

that you have no power over

In time,

they grow more comfortable

they laugh, they smile,

they call you mom and dad

but,

with each home visit

they return confused

they feel like traitors

their parents tell them

they cannot be happy

with you

you are just a stranger

they already have a mom and dad

They are angry with you

you have made them comfortable

stolen something

from what they had at home

they have promises you see

mom and dad are getting well

and everything will be

different

won’t it

after 20 years of speed

mom will change

she’s so sorry

bout the time

she burned you with that cigarette

for fun

Dad will straighten up

five kids won’t try his patience

he promises he won’t use

the belt again

and the private place

he touched the girls-

well, that didn’t really happen

did it?

the girls just made that up.

So one day you have to pack them up

and send them back again

It doesn’t matter that you love them

It doesn’t matter that they are happy

home is where they belong

at least for the next few months

til dad gets busted once again

Ah, but those few months

leave a lifetime of scars

on a five year olds heart.

MJ Wilson-Scott 1992