jessica

third son of six

we ain't have no health insurance

except for love and reassurance

then jessica was born and something

it wasn't right

i used to cry myself to sleep in bed prayin' at night

she never learned to walk or talk but she could smile

in school they'd call me to her class to calm her down

and i was never embarrassed

never once ashamed

on the playground i'd come runnin' callin' your name

and i'd remember right under the tree

where your wheelchair would see

i'd come and take a knee

and give you big brother kisses when i left

and you responded to my words

you wasn't deaf

i know your voice was sweet

that i'd never hear you speak

but your eyes spoke the loudest and they said you love me

and i love you too

to this day i'm unsure

if any of us were ever worthy of you

heroes come and go but angels never leave

there has to be a purpose

i can't help but believe

that you're runnin' and you're jumpin' through the leaves

so save your david a spot up in the trees

heroes come and go but angels never leave

there's got to be a purpose

i can't help but believe

i know you're runnin' and you're jumpin' through the leaves

save your bubba a spot up in the trees

hot sun

bricks

daddy's workin' like he's got a

four kids eatin' peas from johns hopkins

spoon-feedin' jessica was a lot on my mama and the group of ladies

had to pat on her body daily to keep her joints from lockin'

i remember her room light blue

with the table in the middle and a mobile

no one told us what had caused it

as the condition set rett syndrome is what they called it

but what is that?

i overheard words mentioned like recessive genes"