Tucking In (Claudia/Aisha)

by Bill McCloud

Tucking in the
sweet sweet toddler
she almost stretches
to reach above but
her body seems to
change its mind

Bedtime story read but there
are stories we never read
at night or even believe

For some girls less than
a decade older living
thousands of miles away
the dream is of escape or
just maybe a swap-deal

How can we open
presents or go trick
or treating or back
to school shopping

when we know they are
still kidnapping
girls in Africa