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Anna's Way
So many times, I came to visit you;
To see if there was anything that I could do
To brighten up your day,
But you wouldn't answer, 'cause that was Anna's way.
At first I talked to you one-sidedly,
And most times you would just ignore me.
I wasn't sure if you could even hear,
But I set aside my initial fear.
And just kept on coming back;
Chipping at your armor searching for a crack.

You would always pretend to be asleep
I had made a vow, that I intended to keep;
That I would not give up on you,
And like a dream you came through.
You told me that you always knew, whenever I was there.
That you were just testing how much I'd really care.
You smiled and told me that you can hear,
And that nothing escapes your listening ear.
You said, "When the staff thinks that I don't understand,
They go away and don't make demands.
My time is then my very own,
and they leave me the hell alone.
Cause sometimes they talk too much
And invade my privacy and such.
Most times all I want is blanket,
and sometimes it's the thing that I cannot get.
Now and then I'll make some fuss,
and this is between the two of us.
If I convince them that I'm not all there.
Then none of them would be aware.
That I'm in charge of how I spend my day."
And so you always had it, Anna's way.

Learn more about this author, Betty Rodman.
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