'who do i look up to'

The other day while watching TV I saw an ad that didn't make sense to me They said to find someone to look up to To show and teach me the right things to do A mentor, an influence to mold me like clay To grow into a respectable adult one day I look at the world and all I see Isn't much that will help a little girl like me I grow up in a home without any love Praying, God take me home with you above Nights are filled with fear and pain From beatings and hunger, I'm so ashamed At school I'm made fun of because I dont fit in Wearing tattered clothes, worn shoes as if it's a sin My teacher is prejudice, I'm always chosen last I have no friends 'cause they think I'm poor white trash The world around me is filled with poverty and crime I can't look up to daddy, he's still doing time Mom is filled with anger and takes it out on me My face is pretty, but with the bruises you can't see Innocence was lost a long time ago By my uncle, even though I repeatedly screamed no I asked my neighbor for something to eat Not candy or cake or a special treat He yelled , spit at me and slammed the door Saying get away from here or I'll show you what for Who can I look up to, a little girl like me When hatred and prejudice are all I seeThis is not a story of my own childhood, but an insight to the lives of many forgotten children...some that I have known personally. I have been a mentor to many children, especially teenagers and this poem is based on a compilation of their lives. Written January 16th, 2002 © on Jan 16 2002 04:16 AM PST, Kathy D    13 • 6 • 1