Through the eyes of a child

The beauty of her mother's smile,
The vibrant blue of her eyes,
Storing it up and shutting them out
Beyond her years, so wise.

The shimmering of the morning sun,
Reflecting on rippling waves,
The footprints on the sand she makes,
She dare not misbehave.

The rustle of the tall green trees,
The beautiful song of a bird,
It flies overhead, stretching its wings,
All the time her cries go unheard.

Dreading bedtime, each night spent in fear,
Only her dreams can block out
The arguments brewing, the sound of a fist,
As mummy receives one more clout.

Her head buried underneath pillows,
Trying to muffle the sound,
The screams and the curses, When will it stop?
Yet fear keeps her there, tightly bound.

Replaying in her head the memories
Of days spent down by the sea,
Hiding her tears away from the world,
Hoping to one day be free.

Free as the bird that flew overhead,
Free as the sea, so wild,
If only they could stop for a while,
And see through the eyes of their child.