with arms wrapped around your knees
holding your body in a ball
with tears streaming down your face
looking for the strength to crawl
you're smiling for their sake
while inside you are dying
you can't carry them forever
they can't see you're crying
they've drained all the life
out from your innocent soul
drowning you in your own tears
destroying yourself as a whole
a child now fully exposed
to more than you should be
you're wise beyond your years
if only they could see