THE ORPHAN PIG

The one eyed girl,
The orphan pig
And the boy with the gap-toothed smile
Were singing songs in the barn
During an afternoon rain
And the boy turned to the girl and says
I heard it plain
They was talking down at the mill
Not knowing I knew a word
Or understood

They was saying there was people born
Without imperfection
However that is
As if they got ears on both sides of their head
Just the same

They call it “Normal” they do
Coldest word I ever heard
And no one said a word against them
Said how pitiful sad
Or remarked that
They Mommas still loved them
Just the same

There’s no special schools for them
No crutches or braces or even –
Well I couldn’t hear no more
It was all I could listen to
Saddest thing I ever heard tell of –
Imagine having a Momma that wouldn’t
Say she loved them the same
Or just as much

My Momma said it lots of times
I heard your Momma say it too
But they Momma don’t say it to them
No wonder they point at us
And try to be spiteful mean
Now they shouldn’t feel bad
It may be they have imperfections
On the inside of them
And if they can figure them out
They Mommas might love them
Just the same

The orphan pig didn’t understand
A word they said
But liked it when they hugged her
But mostly when they sang.

Jim Miller