A Child with a Child


I was a child with a child,
Fifteen years old and not yet grown,
within my body growing a child of my own.
Here we are now, two babies crying,
and no one hears, little girl, no one hears.
Okay, hush now, I'll put away my school books;
no time for learning now I know.
Too soon I've learned of life,
yet learning not anything of love.
How can I teach you what I know nothing of?
For you one lesson,
one thing I must teach you well--
to forsake what seems like small pleasure,
to guard and keep your youth while you are young,
for you itself, its your true treasure.
That I may find within my adolescent frame, 
te wisdom to raise you right and strong,
that I may become a woman soon,
so that you may be a child alone.