Betty (april 2006)

Betty

Sometimes when she hears the other kids
She asks Betty why she cant play no more
But she gets no reply

And when they pass by on their way to school
She asks Betty why she doesn’t go like before
But she gets no reply

Sometimes when shes reading
She asks Betty why she cant visit far off places
But she gets no reply

And sometimes she remembers simple things
Reminds Betty about the lack of shoelaces
But she gets no reply

And when her parents are fighting
She asks Betty why their bills are so high
But she gets no reply

And sometimes she feels them burning
Tells Betty she refuses to cry
But she gets no reply

And in frustration sometimes she asks Betty
Why bitter people make war
But she gets no reply

Sometimes she screams at Betty
Remembering what her medicines for
But she gets no reply

And every once in awhile she cries out to God
for help or just to listen
But she gets no reply

And so she asks Betty
Confused about her mission
But she gets no reply

Sometimes she thinks of the future
Asks Betty will she marry
But she gets no reply

Yes sometimes she dreams in vain
Asks Betty bout the baby she cant carry
But she gets no reply

Sometimes she looks out her window
Explains to Betty about dancing in fields
But she gets no reply

Sometimes she sees those children dance
And asks Betty if they know the power she wields
But she gets no reply

Sometimes she asks Betty
Why her ears still ring with the echo of that boom
But she gets no reply

And other times with difficulty
Asks Betty why she cant use the bathroom
But she gets no reply

And when she misses him the most
She reminds Betty of her desperation
But she gets no reply

On his birthday, Christmas the anniversary
She asks why shes not with him on vacation
But she gets no reply

But to show her strength she always does it alone
Whispering in the darkness her intent to die
But she gets no reply

But she fears the reaction of her parents
A second child who didn’t say goodbye
But she gets no reply

Sometimes she screams out
"BETTY WHY AINT I GOT NO LEGS
WHY HAS MY BROTHER DIED!!!?"

And she asks these questions of Betty over and over
Because one time Betty replied...

((((((Bouncing Betties.... the horror of impersonal warfare.. this horrible device was created to kill, and is used throughout the world (The United States is one of the largest producers of land mines despite them being against UN human rights protocal.) Every year innocents are mamed and killed by landmines -sometimes from wars decades before. The former Yugoslavian wars... used mines extensively in the hills -which are still not to be hiked etc..

this one is rather long and might be somewhat boring but i think in a performance it would be a bit more powerful... its really sad when you think about this shit... the bills, the frustration, the reactions from people who cant help and cant understand... i imagined some girl sitting in bed all day, unable to talk to anyone but God for help... and finding no answer she turns to the device which changed her life forever...knowing it cant help her...but hoping that one day it would react to her pain in the same way it reacted to the child's foot...)))))