The Lioness

Cheerful little lioness;
Her head held high, a smile on her face.
Her eyes bright with wonder
for the world around her.
She doesn't understand that the world is cruel,
and her innocence provides the hate with fuel.

Anxious little lioness;
Her confidence has cracked.
No longer is she unafraid to be who she is.
Nows she constantly worries about the consequences;
What will they say? What will they think? Do?
The challenges are daunting, and everything is always new.

Troubled little lioness;
Her world is falling apart and there's nothing she can do.
Everyone is out to get her; make her fail and laugh at it.
She carefully watches her every move.
'Don't give them a weakness to target', she repeats
as she lives in the world where nightmares and real life meet.

Wise little lioness;
Her mind is sharp, agile; she's learned a thing or two.
She knows what to share or hide; with who and when.
Under high spirits and smiles she buries herself, and
few know what she's feeling, but is seen as an open book.
If only they knew of the cheerful little lioness that reality took.