Belong To Me

A mother and her children. 20th Century reminiscent.

I placed three teacups on the table

With the matching plates by their side,

Swept away the crumbs I could see,

To prepare the room for our evening tea.

I'll hear them soon, running to the treats

Their eager young faces I'll never forget.

I had always longed for children so sweet

Ever since I heard their first heart beat.

Violet, my eldest, my very first jewel:

Wearing a lavender dress to match her name,

There are ribbons in her soft fair hair,

She crafted them with tender care.

She loves to dance around my legs,

Her dress glides high; the ribbons flutter

Her smile heals me at my core,

As she twirls in the sunlight around the floor.

Grace, the singer, medicine for my ears

Dark haired and gentle, so kind to all.

Delicately wrapped in her poker-dot dress,

This gem, I know the gods have blessed.

For though petite, her voice shimmers high

Just like a bird, she is blissfully heard.

In the evenings I nestle her within my arm,

I listen to her song like she's casting a charm.

And Jackson, our protector, my boy so strong

Too young to find his talent - too playful to care.

Climbing trees in the rain; being covered in mud,

His laughs, games and tricks - a magical bud

He'd have grown up handsome; I can see it in his eyes:

The radiant blue would entrance all he met.

His innocent words, would invite all to see

Just what sort of hero he'd turn out to be.

But for now he'll sit, his sisters by his side

In the light of a full moon they stare at their tea

Upright where I placed them, their heads resting back

Their skin cold and still, their eyes only black.

Violet's stopped dancing; her dress doesn't glide

And there’s a red drowning out the purple before

Grace's mouth has closed, silence resides

The scar on her throat has stolen her pride

Jackson's laughs and games, his tricks are no more

My bud covered in crimson rather than mud

And despite what crowds say, I'll keep them all here

Let them all know, they have nothing to fear

And all you on lookers can barely believe

You call me insane refuse to come near

Yet a mother's love will help you all see:

That my three jewels must always be here with me.