Respect,
digs deep into her bony arms
curling like tendrils
of smoke
from her singed fingers.

Pride,
lies shattered at her broken feet
flitting away like shadows
when darkness
comes her way.

Courage,
remains non-existent
like the bruises
blue-black
hiding under her sleeves.

Love,
plays hide-and-seek
leaving her
almost always
to get hurt in the darkest corners.

Roots of her hair
ache
with every thought
of harbouring such
qualities.

Her shoulder
cracks
every time she
moves
to learn something new.

Throbbing limbs, cut lip,
face eternally powdered,
all these remind her
of the time she stood strong
and was pushed

Down,
tasting dirt for the
first time,
and then,
forever.