Little Red Angels

My daughter keeps running, running, running.

Why is it she must flee?

I must protect my baby girl,

Why does she run from me?

Crying, screaming, begging,

"Leave me alone, Mama, please!"

Panting, resolved, trying to catch her,

Calling, "Sweetheart, come back to me!"

There is danger in the air.

There are whispers all around.

I must save my little angel,

I must shield her from this town.

Running, running, running,

Around dim corners, down strange roads.

I can hear her feet slap the pavement;

Her precious feet, her poor little toes!

"Darling, please stop running!"

The voices shout to stop her, now.

There's monsters lurking in the dark,

Waiting to hunt my baby down.

She doesn't see the puddle.

She skids, and slips, and falls.

Deep inside, my heart skips a beat.

I can save her after all!

Now she's crawling, crawling, crawling,

While her sobs draw curious stares.

I reach her, shield her from their eyes;

Now she'll know how much I care.

She struggles underneath my hand,

Her pretty eyes drowning in tears.

I smile gently down at her.

"Now you can forget about your fears."

A flash of metal, a child's scream,

A bang, and then it's done.

I cradle my baby, now calm and hushed,

And smile as strangers run.

Running, running, running, 

The voices retreat into my head.

I breathe a sigh. My daughter's safe.

I think, I didn't know angels wear red.