Why Girl

This is a poem I wrote loosely based off of one of my campers this summer when I worked at Camp Beechpoint. It is written from her perspective talking to me.

Why Girl
by Melody Beerbower, Aug 3, 2016

Girl, 
Why you lookin' at me?
Don'tch ya know I don't want you to see
All the things I've built up walls to hide.
There aint no way I'm lettin' you see who I am inside.

Girl, 
Why you smilin' at me?
Don'tch you know it's only angry scowls I'm used to see?
But you always be doin' that cheerful smile,
And it jus' gets to me after awhile. 

Girl, 
Don'tch you go touchin' me!
I've been touched by others, you see,
In ways that makes me scared to accept a friendly touch
On shoulder or hair--it's just too much. 

Girl, 
Why you always talkin' about Jesus Christ?
How He died for us and wants us to be nice?
Jesus loves me so you say,
But you're the only one I've seen  live that way.  

Girl, 
You know I accepted Jesus the other night, 
But I don't know if I did it quite right. 
It's hard to follow when my friends lead me astray 
Maybe I can just try another day...

Girl, 
I hate this camp. And I hate you. 
I hate all you say and all that you do. 
I tell you I want to go home right today, 
But really it's because I just want to stay. 

So Girl, 
Don'tch you give up on me.
Keep on smilin' and loving and you will see
Little ways I'm showing you
How much I care because
Girl, I do.