The well was dug many years ago
By little "hands" who tried
To find a way to hold the tears
That the little girl cried

All the things she went through
She then buried deep within
It wasn't safe to let it out 
'Cause she'd be hurt again

It took many, many years
Before the well, it filled
But finally that day came
And then the tears, they spilled

No longer would the lid clamp down
No more could she take
But still she had to try
For too much was at stake

That was when the wails came
The tears flowed from her eyes
Before that she'd never known
Those terrible keening cries

No longer was she safe
No longer could she hide
For the pain came from within
The danger was inside

Arms wrapped around herself
Trying hard to contain
Rocking to and fro ...
A solid ball of pain

Suddenly a sound arises
Filling the air around her
The sound of a soul that's tearing
Wavering and growing louder

Eventually 'nough tears were shed
That the level, it had dropped
That is when her eyes she dried
And the sounds of sobbing stopped

Now she knew the well was there
But knowing had its cost
For it meant she had to face
The innocence she'd lost

She's learned since then to lift the lid
And let some pain flow from the well
But still she fears that when it's dry
She'll be an empty shell

Still, I'm holding tight the hope within
Searching for joy I've never known
Someday I'll feel that love surround me
And know my soul has grown.

But today the tears flow down my face
Not a sound am I making
Silent sobs wrack my body
As my heart continues breaking

Sandy Mendenhall 
stilllittlelady2@yahoo.com