Childhood Memories

There's a hole in my heart,
An ache that never quite departs,
For I was once a child,
Left alone, longing, and beguiled.

My mother's absence left me wanting,
Aching for love and protection's bonding,
Lost in a world that felt unknown,
A culture that never felt like my own.

I yearned for my favorite toys,
And watched cartoons that brought me joy,
But even those pleasures were denied,
And my heart and soul felt cast aside.

I'm grown now and carry the weight,
Of a past that still fills me with ache,
But deep inside, I am still that child,
Living a childhood that was far from mild.

The wounds may never fully heal,
And the pain may still remain real,
But I'll hold onto hope and the present,
And find love and joy in each moment.

Image Source: Pixabay