A Movement for Solo Cello and Voice

Child pretty, child gay

Saw a mirror and ran away

Dance with demons, sing and play

Bobo lived, but not today

Spark of life that came to be

A child is borne with an open heart

Embraced by innocent misery,

Confused the message from the start.

A tiniest hand that reached for the light

Desperate for the warmth of touch

Thought Hell’s fire burning bright

Must be the same, and held too much

The youth saw walls as windows black

Believed her light could be the cure

Each chain or boundary she’d attack

No limits could her spirit endure

She had no trust in gifts or gold

Presuming faith as ignorance

She mocked the peace she could not hold

A jealous child’s insolence

Yet something in that child’s soul

Was brighter than her shadow cast

And passed beyond her flame’s control

To melt the hearts of all she passed

As womanhood approached the girl

That soul, so long without a voice

Whispered a song that made her whirl;

The hint that now she had a choice

Frenzied by the chance of light

Of love’s true warmth, and so much more:

She raced across the driving night

Desperate to peek behind each door

But just one map she had to use

One light she had by which to see

Her course was learn’d through life’s abuse

Her lamp lit by her misery

She danced the only jig she knew

But she danced it with all of her heart

When faced with peace, away she flew

Before that song had chance to start

Lord, now she comes to dance with you

That spark of life come home above

Caress her always in light that’s true

And bathe that soul in eternal love.

Child pretty, child gay

Couldn’t wait and wouldn’t stay

Dance with Angels, sing and play

Bobo lived, but not today