Shed your tears for
Little Kathleen
She was only 14
Only a week before
she laid on the soccer field
Already in shock
She called out
to a man of the cloth
passing by
Father, I’m a good Irish Catholic girl
Are you here to give me
Last Rites?
She asked with a grin
He said No… I am not a priest
a local Minister I am
But I wish you well
Well???
Well… he should have given me
Last Rites
Last Rites for my innocence
Because it would be stolen
from me within a week
My mom would be stolen
within 5 months
And my soul would be set adrift
in choppy waters
with anger, disgust, hatred,
blame, shame, guilt, pain and denial
for 40 plus years
And yet my heart always
had Love in it
Love of my family, friends
and patients
So while the negative was
simmering
there was always
Love
And eventually love of myself
and now
Love for Little Kathleen
It wasn’t her fault
She was only
14
