THE LITTLE CHILD INSIDE

I.      We each have a little child inside

         Who wants to be loved, hugged and kissed

         To be cuddled, caressed and cared for

         A little child who can play and laugh

         Sing and dance with carefree abandon

         Who never forgets to smell the flowers

             To see the rainbow and be moved

             To embrace a palm tree

             To look a toad in the eye

             And say, "Hello, toady!"

         For whom beauty is always

         New and fresh, young and exciting

         Who sees beauty everywhere

         And who always notices

         The color purple in a field somewhere

II.     But sometimes that little child inside

         Wanders off -- a prodigal -- gets lost

         And even dies

         And we see many corpses walking around

         These corpses wear many suits

         But they all wear one face --

         The face of hopelessness

         Of listlessness, of emptiness

         Their eyes filled with nothingness

         Waiting for their body to be buried

         With the little child long gone

III.   It is Love that nourishes and keeps alive

         The little child inside

         Lest it perish under the weight

         Of the busy, clamoring world

         Lest it shrivel up and become numb

         For without Love there is

         No life, no soul, no meaning

         It is Love that nourishes and keeps alive

         The little child inside

         With a smile, a hug, a kiss

         With gentle words that encourage and build up

         And make people feel good about themselves

         With a word, a look, a touch

         That says -- I care!

IV.    The wings of the soul and the life of

         The little child inside

         Wither and die so easily

         With a diet of bitterness, resentment, envy

         With criticism, jealousy, self-pity

         With a diet of revenge, greed and hate

         And harsh words that tear down

         Self-esteem and dignity

         The little child inside

         Perishes for lack of Love