Eileen

Growing Up

by Eileen

Tuesday 25th July 2017 6:49 am (first posted Monday 24th July 2017 10:43 am)

I am fifteen years old and I think I own the world.

I have a boyfriend and he loves me.

He yells at me but that is okay, he loves me.

He shoves me but that is okay, he loves me.

He slapps me but that is okay, he loves me.

He holds me down as I yell and scream because it hurts but that is okay, he loves me.

I am sixteen years old and I escaped my first abusive relationship.

I am sixteen and numb inside.

I am sixteen and I see him in the darkness.

I am sixteen and his body weight smothers me at night.

I am sixteen and I live in fear of his face.

I am sixteen and I panic in the halls at school.

I am sixteen and I wake up crying.

I am sixteen and my body has no more value.

I am seventeen and I observe the world.

I am seventeen and the world thinks I am a child.

I am seventeen and I see the abuse.

I am seventeen and I see the heartbreak.

I am seventeen and I have looked evil in the face.

🌷 (2)

abuse domestic abuse growing growing older internal struggle slam poetry

Comments

M.C. Newberry

Mon 24th Jul 2017 16:12

The content and its message are timeless in the context
of growing up and each generation seems to need the
lesson taught and heeded - or dangerously disregarded.
The young can think they know it all
Cinderellas at the ball.
When self-deception comes to call
Pride and pain precede the fall.

Raj Ferds

Mon 24th Jul 2017 14:32

I like the intensity of this offering Eileen. There is a clear intellectual and moral honesty to it. You speak for many and that has tremendous value.

Look forward o the next one!
Raj

Lynn Dye

Mon 24th Jul 2017 13:36

It is indeed a powerful poem and straight from the heart. Welcome to WOL, Eileen.

patricia Hughes

Mon 24th Jul 2017 12:42

Powerful poem.

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 24th Jul 2017 12:03

I would include the final lines as you have them in your Bio, although the starkness of this version is very intense. Perhaps the omission is on purpose.

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