My darling child,
I want all your sadness to go away,
And what brings you joy to stay in your heart.
Prayer makes you happy and relaxed,
But you soon remember your troubles and leave it.
There are so many wounds, and some have healed, but their scares still linger. Some, aren’t. Pray for their healing.
I am sorry the world has done this to you.
I am sorry it has made you weep,
It has made you sad.
Although I’m glad you have seen a lot of different things and different people
And you truly know what the world is.
I am sorry they have shown you the bad and the ugly sides.
This world does not have patience, and
Sometimes you may feel there is no love and joy in it
Even from your own parents.
But remember I have all,
And when all things seem so bleak,
Please remember, hope in my promises, and have faith to come to me, and lay all your burdens.
I will carry them for you my child.
You don’t need to have them.
The world just lays burdens on you –
Most of them, even all, unnecessary because you are most of all worried and bothered because of the bad and the evil of this world.
Why are you when I can bring it to its knees and your good heart can overwhelm all its badness?
So, my child,
Take care.
Remember I love you, and know all you want, and how you suffer.
Pray. Pray, so that I remind you of all that I have just said, and more.
Pray, my child.
Adaudo Anyiam-Osigwe . From her book of poems – A Little Understanding: Poems from the End of Childhood to the Beginning of Adulthood