Nurturing your inner-child is all about having relentless compassion for yourself.

It is about understanding why you are the way you are. It can also be a stepping stone in your own personal healing journey.

I chose to write a poem to the little girl inside of me, and I’d love to share it with you all in hopes it may bring about self-compassion that you have permission to whole-heartedly embrace. Mine is a journey of passionate healing from trauma and severe dissociation.

Come Child

Come child, it’s going to be alright.
Let me carefully break those chains.
Your pale face quivers as I remove the tape,
Allow me to fill up for you what has been drained.

Come child, you’re shaking.
Let me wrap you up in a blanket, it’s alright.
I have something to tell you,
And if you get scared you can squeeze my hand tight.

Come child, let me show you.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
I see a little girl, so innocent and small—
A child who should never have so many others to please.

Come child, for your body is frail.
Place your hand in mine, do you see the difference?
You are so little in comparison.
Unlike the ones who closely harm you, yet keep their distance.

Come child, please say something.
Use your voice, I promise that you have one.
It’s okay, I know it has been taken from you—
I know that you can’t scream and you can’t run.

Come child, please show me the place,
The place that you take yourself away.
I’m sure it’s beautiful and safe—
It’s okay to go there, you don’t ever have to stay.

Come child, are you doing alright?
You’ve endured too much, much too soon.
You are already tired and it’s only begun,
And upon the wall I can see pieces of you strewn.

Come child, I need you to know,
That your light shines brighter than most.
Even though I cannot save you,
I am, and will always be close.

Come child, what they do to you is unfair.
Your body has never been yours.
And your mind is stained with their lies.
Each and every hurt is slowly creating sores.

Come child, we can do this together.
For sores and pain can always be healed.
Never lose sight of your innocence—
Gather together an army of strength and allow them to be your shield.

Author: Jane Hart

Image: Lance Neilson/Flickr

Editor: Emily Bartran