Be at Peace: Pilgrimage 3

 Limit Street 

Children playing 

Laughter 

Swinging higher on the swings 

Going around faster on the Merry-Go-Round 

Sliding down head first on the side 

The memories I have of this place. 

Playing with my friends 

Baseball games coached by my father 

Learning to tie my shoes 

Haunted house on our first floor

These are the memories I have of this place 

Abused children acting out one another 

The terror of screaming and anger and violence 

Breaking records 

Breaking hearts 

These are The memories I have of this place 

Being pinned down on the top bunk 

Seeing myself outside of myself 

Losing another piece of myself 

These are the memories I have of this place 

Prayer and community and laughter and song

Lived alongside terror and violation

These are the memories I have of this place 

I send grace and healing into the ether for all the children who were violated here

I reclaim my voice for the silent child 

I reclaim Justice for the violated child 

I reclaim peace for the terrorized child 

I reclaim love for the shamed child 

I reclaim the pieces of me that were lost here

Be at peace. 

It is done.