My Cape.

Twenty years ago in a land far away

A new baby was born

Oh what should have been a joyous day

On the day that the baby went home

A kind old lady brought a gift

A blanket she said

That the girl should take with her as she went down the road ahead

The blanket would begin a legacy that could never be stopped

The blanket was a pale yellow

And soft as the clouds

Then she wrapped that baby girl up

Making sure that she was warm and secure

As the baby left the hospital that spring day

An unusual cool rain came pouring down

Maybe that was a sign

But it was okay

Because that baby girl was safe and warm that day

As that little girl began to grow

She learned to walk and talk

She carried that yellow blanket everywhere

Through the woods and down the street

Then one day

Although it wasn’t really all of a sudden

While just beginning school

That blanket started tearing

With every word her loved ones screamed in frustration

She ran away to the woods

Where the words couldn’t touch her

She carried that blanket

All of the way

Day after day

It protected her from the words that people would always say

And from the punches they would throw

But as she carried that blanket

Through the woods she carried that blanket

With sticks in the way

Little tears began to take that blanket

From its previous state

No matter the damage

She carried it still

Through daily trials and fears

She kept that blanket with the promise that it held

But those painful things

From those who she wanted to love

Could not be taken back

Those pains continued and they grew

That little girl was growing

But one thing remained

Things in life continued to hurt her

And made her want to die

With blanket in hand

She walked through her life

Trying to keep things together

And life in one piece

Which was no easy task

Some days tears would flow

The reason she didn’t always know

But she held that blanket tight

And used it to wipe the tears away

Once again that blanket was her comfort

Drying the tears that streamed down her face

But those tears stained that beautiful yellow blanket

And it would never be the same

With each hurtful word and tear

Came a desperation and fear

Knowing that her dreams

Were no longer real

As she got in the car

And was driven away

That yellow blanket turned black on the corner

Because it was hanging out of the car door

That car, someone else was still driving

She could not make them stop either

No matter how much she screamed and protested

That little girl continued to grow

She would soon be able to drive on her own

But still people drove her

Where they wanted and expected her to go

As she grew older

She lost hope for those dreams

And new that yellow blanket

Was too tattered to keep her warm

She wouldn’t get rid of it

Because she treasured it still

But washed it and folded it

Then put it in a safe place

On a shelf in that closet

That blanket was stored

Not in a corner on the floor

But in a very special place

After only short time however

That teenage girl returned to her closet

And gently pulled the blanket down

It wasn’t so soft anymore

The day that she got that blanket out of the closet

Was the day that beautiful old lady gave it to her died

This was not the first loss she had experienced

But this one took a piece of her heart

As the young lady opened the blanket

To wrap her self in it once again

She was saddened to see

That several holes had taken the place

Of that shield that she wanted the blanket to be

You see in the time that the girl left her blanket behind

It was there all along, waiting

With every death and heartbreak

A piece of it was eaten, as by a moth

She never again left that blanket in the closet

She once again held it dear

But as she had seen before

Life takes a toll

As this young lady moved on

And out of her family home

The world did not get any easier

She carried the tears and wounds from her childhood

And began to wear the blanket like a cape

Saying look at what I have been through

Don’t expect anything different from me

Don’t expect me to love you

Or let you love me

Expect a heart of steel

That no one can break through

She toyed with the thought of becoming something more

But when she took that cape off

It became more and more frayed

The stress of living and carrying this blanket

Was just too much to bear

The threads began to tear apart

Her blanket was ripping at the seams

She was no longer able

To find comfort in the

Torn and dirty blanket

It was worthless and should be thrown away

Surely that old lady didn’t really know

What she was talking about

Or maybe the little girl just messed up the chances

By not taking care of her things enough

The little girl, although grown now

Knew it was to late

She didn’t take care of herself

How could she expect to take care of anyone else

With head held low

And a tear rolling down her cheek

The little girl, now and adult drug that blanket

With a knowledge of defeat

She sat on a park bench

Beneath beautiful trees

Where the flowers bloomed and birds were singing

But all that she could see

Was that tattered old blanket

And how she had not become all that she could be

Then a sweet old lady with a twinkle in her eye

Sat down beside her

And asked why she cried

As the young lady told her story

She went back to the first day

Then explained how she let life

Tatter the hope

That had been given to her over twenty years ago

No matter how much she wanted to help people

And give them that same joy

It was too late now

No one would be kept warm

In the blanket that she now held

That little old lady,

With a twinkle in her eye

Said “that is nonsense honey”

“Let me show you why”

The lady held up the blanket

To the bright spring sun

And rays of warmth and beauty

Shined through

This young lady insisted

Despite this grand sight

That it still could not protect a baby

Like it had done long ago

The two became friends

The girl didn’t know why

But before she knew it

That little yellow blanket

Had become quite a sight

You see, as pieces of that blanket

Had become tattered and torn

And dirt changed its color

There were pieces of other peoples blankets

That they had left for her over time

The little old lady showed her this

And taught her so much

Before she knew it that young lady

Was a little girl again

As she sat with her friend

There side by side

They began to sew together

The pieces of her life

She added memories

And lessons learned

And much to her surprise

Her little yellow blanket from so long ago

Was now big enough to cover

Two people

As the little old lady

Neared the end of her life

Her friend by her side

Tears running down her face

She wondered why

Then the little old lady

Full of wisdom and love

Simply said

“Your blanket is good enough”

The blanket was placed on the lady

As she lay in her bed

Bringing her warmth and comfort

As she bowed her head

Before her eyes closed

For the final time

She looked at that “little girl”

And with a tear in her eye

Said “thank you for loving me”

And then said “goodbye”