Hardest Words

• Julie Ng, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2009

The girl looks up, Mummy you look sad,
Is it my fault, have I been bad?
Mum smiles sadly and says, it isn’t you,
Come on, hurry! You'll be late for school.
Later that night, girl's doing her homework
Smart and complacent, reading her books
But she hears crying, doesn't know where it's from
She looks around, where is Mum?
She goes to the bathroom, hears the shower is on
She knocks at the door, Mummy something's wrong!
I can hear you crying, is it Daddy, is he okay?
Where is he? Where's he gone?
He hasn't been home, hasn't kissed me goodnight
Where are the stories he reads me at night?
Please tell me mummy, please, I'm scared
Please I don't get it, I don't understand.