Treasure Turtle

Her tired aged fingers, toss lightly birdseed across the dirt.
A long black skirt
and an apron,
her shoulders covered with a yellow shawl.
Each line upon her face told a tale of old,
when just a girl so small.

A saddened test, a life, not the best,
yet along the lane, overgrown with brush, a remembered founded treasure.
She picked up the turtle, in her small hands, smiling, wondering,
this new found friend, there was no measure.

Between the lines beneath her eyes, a saddened tear,
scars upon her back, harsh punishment, once bled out pain,
no regard for consequences, no voice to comprehend,
the child within, lost, screams silenced, as there were many in vain.

The wagon wheels turned, dust, she choked upon her breath,
blistered hands worked hard in the summer heat,
mere cents to clothe and bathe,
for a struggling meal to eat.

Unto her, a child born,
of a selfish man, laws wrote, his control.
Doing just as she was told,
as a woman, just a mere lifeless forgotten woman, her role.

Not to expect anything more,
whiskey baited breath, his cold shoulder beside her upon night.
Days it seemed to rain, flooded in muddy fields,
darkened upon a restless fight.

A young boy, in watchful eyes,
a sinister cycle, he would only follow, if only she could lead him away.
The blackened heart and blackened eyes took their toll,
and a found moment to escape one quiet autumn day.

A one room house, damp air, but a choice she could only afford,
the struggle for mere cents, she worked to maintain,
taught her child, in but only love,
within this, life's forgotten pain.

A saddened test, a life, not the best,
she rediscovers the founded treasure.
She picked up the turtle, passed into his small hands, he smiles in wonder,
this new found friend, there was no measure.