It don't matter that it ain't late enough to sleep, I get in my sleepin' gowns and hop into my bed anyways. When I see the moon high in the sky, I whisper my hello to my mother and fall asleep.
She is beautiful, like an Angel, her voice a song when she speaks. Her eyes remind me of the perfect water, bluer than mine, her hair coiled in little gold ringlets. She like my old doll, Susie, her skin refreshin' and softer than milk. Her nose ain't big like mine, rather a little button that luckily ain't the focus of her face. She squishes it when she laughs, like Mary do sometimes, lookin' like she ain't older than a girl. She ain't jus' beautiful, she a goddess. I put my hand on her face and she leans into it, closin' those water-eyes, and smilin' with them pretty pink lips.
She is warm, like my own sun, bringin' heat to my ice fingers. We sit for a while, jus' like that, our breathin' in sync. We are together, always and forever. I wish to tell her I love her, I wish to tell her I miss her. But when I speak, that ain't what comes out.
"You don't think I'm crazy," I ask her softly, the words leavin' my mouth with my breath, "You don't think I'm crazy for likin' them slaves, right?"
She blinks once in surprise, a warm smile lightin' up her face. She takes my hand from her face and cradles it in her own palm, squeezin' tight. I see myself in her eyes, before she answers, glintin' with a shared secret. I know what she gonna say before she says it.
"You ain't crazy, jus' right," she says, "You ain't ever gonna be crazy my Corinne, don't let anyone tell you, you are."
I lean into her bosom for a moment, lettin' her hold me like a babe, and then I wake up.
I don't move for a matter of seconds, still feelin' her face on my palm, still feelin' her presence right by my side. I don't want it to go away, I wanna stay with her forever.
"Mother," I whisper into the air, "Why'd you leave me?"
I don't expect no answer, so it ain't a surprise when I don't get one.
When I feel tired again, my eyes closed, I hear my daddy on the stairs. I tense, my fingers curlin' 'round my blanket, though I know he ain't gonna visit me when the mistress is home. At least not right away. He pauses at my door, and I hold my breath real hard, 'till he passes. I don't wait no longer to run.
She is beautiful, like an Angel, her voice a song when she speaks. Her eyes remind me of the perfect water, bluer than mine, her hair coiled in little gold ringlets. She like my old doll, Susie, her skin refreshin' and softer than milk. Her nose ain't big like mine, rather a little button that luckily ain't the focus of her face. She squishes it when she laughs, like Mary do sometimes, lookin' like she ain't older than a girl. She ain't jus' beautiful, she a goddess. I put my hand on her face and she leans into it, closin' those water-eyes, and smilin' with them pretty pink lips.
She is warm, like my own sun, bringin' heat to my ice fingers. We sit for a while, jus' like that, our breathin' in sync. We are together, always and forever. I wish to tell her I love her, I wish to tell her I miss her. But when I speak, that ain't what comes out.
"You don't think I'm crazy," I ask her softly, the words leavin' my mouth with my breath, "You don't think I'm crazy for likin' them slaves, right?"
She blinks once in surprise, a warm smile lightin' up her face. She takes my hand from her face and cradles it in her own palm, squeezin' tight. I see myself in her eyes, before she answers, glintin' with a shared secret. I know what she gonna say before she says it.
"You ain't crazy, jus' right," she says, "You ain't ever gonna be crazy my Corinne, don't let anyone tell you, you are."
I lean into her bosom for a moment, lettin' her hold me like a babe, and then I wake up.
I don't move for a matter of seconds, still feelin' her face on my palm, still feelin' her presence right by my side. I don't want it to go away, I wanna stay with her forever.
"Mother," I whisper into the air, "Why'd you leave me?"
I don't expect no answer, so it ain't a surprise when I don't get one.
When I feel tired again, my eyes closed, I hear my daddy on the stairs. I tense, my fingers curlin' 'round my blanket, though I know he ain't gonna visit me when the mistress is home. At least not right away. He pauses at my door, and I hold my breath real hard, 'till he passes. I don't wait no longer to run.
