Little Demons

Several years ago a friend of mine made the decision to leave a therapeutic day treatment center we worked for and go back to working a residential program for sexual offenders. 

Why would you ever go back?

I questioned.

If you know how horrible it is—you have done it before. Why? Why go back? Stay.

She smiled wryly.

The demons you know, right? We always go back to the demons we know.

Four years later—I have done the same. . .

Hello you little demons

Who steal these precious souls

Hello you heartless cowards

Who know not where to go

I’m sorry that you’ve come here

To take them as they are

You only mean to beat them

To leave them broken—scarred

I came back because I am insane

We all must be, you know

To come to such a hellish place

And think we will leave whole

Come back my child—I’ll follow you

Into the darkest night

When you raise your hand I’ll run from you

Or perhaps put up a fight

 I see you hiding there my dear

Beneath the grass, beneath your rage

I know you only run from me

Because you fear I will not stay

Tonight I proved you wrong, my dear

I turned my car around

I crouched beneath your barricade

I dared to make a sound

You’re still everything I said, you see

You’re everything and more

You’re smart and loved and worth the world

Not a worthless, used up whore

I know your pain runs deep and wide

And most I’ll never know

But for now please know I’m here

No matter what you show

Tonight I cry beneath the stars

And wonder why it’s so

That Life could give such brutal scars

And hope that we would grow. . .