I had never met a single one
But I knew all of those little girls.
They were my little sisters
with five braids in their hair
They wrote letters home
Sharing beauty rare.
They asked for candy
From counselors
Who knew better
Than to share
The sugary sweet goodness
During rest hour.
And they cried at night
From homesickness
And their mother cry now
With a sickness
That will never pass.
I knew every one of those little girls
The ones who lost a tooth at camp
And the ones with a sore throat
And the girl with a secret
The one who was left out
Of knowing it
And the girl who had the makeup
And the one who wouldn’t try it
And the girl who tried for best cabin
The one with towel on her bunk
Who ruined it.
The one who had real cowboy boots
Whose best friend couldn’t shoot
I will miss them all
Every one.