I grew up
mother incarcerated
father deceased
I grew up
as a foster child
and ‘my mother’s’ child
I grew up
confused, shamed, and angry
lost, unfit, and skeptical
I grew up
witnessing adult truths
experiencing adult lives
I grew up
hearing adult lies
feeling adult pain
I grew up
in a merry go round
home shelter institution home facility…
I grew up
absorbing everything
blending, but never fitting
I grew up
standing by, no one stayed standing by my side
none understood me
I grew up
with internal battles
viewed by my reactions
I grew up
seen as trouble
judged like a man
I grew up
aggressive, out of fear and protection of myself
that narrative carried thru my years, stunting my growth
still, I grew up
now look where I am
exactly where I started off
but at least I grew up…
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