In heart, in mind, there is no time,
Each moment merges with these moods of mine.
Others misunderstand and cannot heed
My mood changes, the love I need.
My neediness comes from my childhood days
When I craved love, hugs, warmth and praise.
Instead I found anger, hurt and rejection,
Which come back to me in moments of silent reflection.
These moments which leave others lost & confused
Are the times I'm remembering how I was abused.
There is a small child, held dear in my heart
Who cries each night alone in the dark,
Who nobody hears except for myself.
Yet her sadness affects my emotional health.
To her, people are cold, cruel and unforgiving.
Her life seems scarcely worth the effort of living.
If nobody else hears her I know I must.
There must be someone for this child to trust.
There was no love for one such as me:
That was the message I learned to believe.
I did not deserve to receive true love,
And my spirit cried out to its allies above.
There was no rescue in those distant childhood days
And all these years later I still long to be saved.
So when I seem down and I reach for your touch
Try to understand why I need it so much.
Don't ignore me when I act juvenile,
But hug me and hold me, for the sake of that child.

Neomie Da Costa, 1995