The Blinding of Darkness

Ella sat by her window,
She listened to the other children,
On their way home from school,
She touched the iron window bars,
It was cold and Ella yearned for warmth,
She talked to the other children,
But they didn’t hear her,
When Ella sat by her window.

Ella sat by the fire,
She listened to the crackle,
As it begged for more,
She touched the flame,
Leaping back in pain,
She talked to creatures who moved with the blaze,
But they didn’t listen,
When Ella sat by the fire.

Ella sat at the table,
She listened to her Ma, Pa and Grandpa,
As they talked about grown-up things,
She touched the food,
Squidgy and burnt,
She talked to herself,
No-one listened but her,
When Ella sat at the table.

Ella went to bed,
She listened to them argue, Ma, Pa and Grandpa,
Shouting to each other in loud hushed voices,
She touched her sheets,
Wishing she were somewhere else,
She talked to her teddy bear,
He listened, but never answered,
When Ella went to bed.

Ella dreamt,
She saw creatures fly,
Their wings gleaming in the sunset,
She saw faces,
Much more beautiful than she could ever have imagined,
She saw skies, birds, animals,
For the first time in her life,
When Ella dreamt.

Ella woke,
She listened to nothing,
She wished the dream had gone on,
She touched herself,
"I am blind."
She said,
But no-one listened,
When Ella woke.