Excuse me, miss, but have you seen my little girl?
She looks a lot like you, but without the sullen curl
To your lip, or the tightly bound look upon your face,
That gazes at the world, and me, with such aloof distaste.
From birth she was impatient to see all of life unfurled,
She'd sit up in her chest pouch and gaze wide-eyed at the world.
As soon as she could walk unaided, off ahead she'd run,
And not let daddy catch up till her ramblings were done,
Or dawdle far behind, amazed at every blade of grass.
Could you help me find her, miss, if it's not too much to ask?
Your self-made coat, that's well done. My daughter makes things too.
I've tried to teach her what I know, but she's as self-guided as you.
"I can do it!" she'd insist, and I really couldn't say,
If I felt more hurt or proud, as she'd pull her hand away.
She loves her legos, her arts and crafts, her bunny, and her books,
All the things you cast away with scornful teenage looks.
She'd never let me hold her hand, she hated being swaddled,
She was always daddy's girl, though, I'd lift her for a cuddle,
And she'd wrap her limbs around me like a small koala bear.
Please, miss, can you tell me, have you seen her anywhere?
She shares my eyes, mouth, eyebrows, chin, my dark unruly hair,
The scars burned in her skin - just like the ones that you, too, wear.
I'd hold her close and keep her safe if it would do any good;
If I could make the hurt stop by sheer force of love, I would.
She's my precious girl, I fight the urge to spoil her every way.
The word 'no' doesn't mean 'I don't love you', she'll understand that one day.
Sometimes she acts like me, which is so sweet and somewhat sad,
And sometimes like her mother, all too selfish, cruel, and mad,
But mostly all I see in her is her, a soul untouched,
My fae-born child acts like herself, there is no other such.
Please, don't turn away, miss, I wish you could be nice,
Not speak in roaring silences, or words that cut like ice,
I'm sure that you could help me find her if you only tried,
If you knew the pain that I can't speak, or all the hours I've cried.
Lash out, slice me in a million pieces, every piece will love her still.
Please miss, won't you help me, I've lost my little girl?