one time
you made me cry
be proud that I
remember
my chin is sore
the bruise is gone
but the spot is tender
gave my hand a sister coy
to Cotton Alley where
you did enjoy
your wicked games
you curious boy
tied my laces up together
when I fell
you laughed
until your belly was sore
in the brick laid aisle behind
the five and dime store
that's how
I made you blush
but doubt if you
remember
were my tears genuine
or those of a skilled
pretender
nothing precious
plain to see
don't make a fuss over me
not loud
not soft
but somewhere in between
say sorry
let it be
the word you mean
I was a little pest who
never took a hint
could never
take a hint
you pinched my fingers
in a door
tossed my coloring book in a
rusty barrel
pulled spiders from my hair
fingers in the door
my favorite blue blouse
stained on the back
running from a berry war
can you hear me scream
in Cotton Alley
scream in Cotton Alley
in Cotton Alley
