Alice O. Howell
Growing
The hell I knew had human eyes
angels that were demon wise
pain to beauty, beauty's pain
rounded wisdom round again
love came down in hate's disguise
life it is that never dies
love it is that tries and tries
child and demon, demon's child
innocent and running wild
stropped for seizing heaven's prize
when hell is telling, heaven lies
when hell is selling, heaven buys
we struggle dreaming struggle's dreams
and reaching where our wisdom gleams
the child within us cries and cries.
a.o.howell