Rusty Chain of Polished Pearls

There wrapped around her neck
a rusty chain of polished pearls
Her classmates never understood why
she'd never take off that "ugly chain"
And when they picked on her, she wouldn't cry
she'd clench the pearls and close her eyes
hoping when she'd open them
they'd be out of her sight
Teachers approached her with gasped mouth
so astonished by her jewerly
Some bidding prices to buy
And some questioning, "Why?"
Everyday? The same chain hangs
on her neck, as if she never takes it off
not even to change
She wouldn't answer their echoing questions
There was no need for them to know
she knew why, and she wanted to be the only one
She gently rubbed each pearl and said a brief prayer
it was for her mother
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said her Amen
"Oh mother, dear mother
Why? They ask. Why do I wear your old chain of pearls?
In hope that one day, when you decide to look for me
you know to look for a little girl with
a rusty chain of polished pearls
wrapped around my neck, you see Mother.
Don't forget. Don't forget me."
And it was with that last word she said
she got up and returned to her classes ahead
still wrapped around her neck was
the rusty chain of polished pearls
in hope her mother would find her little girl