Twisted and gnarled beyond recognition, a childhood sits br faded. br br No laughter, joy, or colorful sights, just a childhood br shadow - a memory of constant abuse. br br Blackened now from fires of amnesia, rusted from the salted br water of the ocean's bottom. br br Shifting sands at last uncovering their hidden faces, washing br over and over their forgotten meanings. br br While encountering the salty rinsing of freshly made wounds br of the past's doing, hurting and burning now the heart of br a once little child. br br Walking away from delayed sadness, the buried anger, no chance br of survival having been betrayed and abandoned.br br RoseAnn V.