When I see (The Little Girl)

When I look at you
past you
and see beneath the mascara, past the cup in your hand
i see...

ribbons. braided through your hair.

i see you giggling, looking upside down from a swing up high
past the wearing and tearing of
the fabric of our beings...way back when

past the guys you hope will see
past the drinks you try to swallow
as hard to remember where/when it happened
as it is to remember what you did
to end up here in this heart-place

i see that hope in your face
and who tried to erase
that joy in those wide eyes?
mine want to cry, knowing
you were holding onto the chance
that this world was more than a joke, more than a glance and a quick kiss goodbye
even though you've been hiding
that beautiful sight, that innocent smile, I know

i KNOW

....that that strength is there, I see it, hear it in that cry
you're gonna open those arms wide and fly
and i'll believe in you until (when) you do
and just know
i've seen you (me)
and we
are meant for more than what we've grown up to be.




**note:
i know sometimes i don't tag ppl in these things, and sometimes they come out vague, but this goes out to some girls i know, some i've just met, some of y'all are on fb, some aren't. i just wanted you to know that you are seen, and that every time i see you, i think of how much i've wanted to tell you this. so this goes to you...i hope you come across this and know that someone at least understands a little bit of what's going on.
i love you.