In shadows deep, where sunlight feared to tread,
A child endured, a life half-lived, half-dead.
His father's hand, a cruel and punishing fist,
Left marks unseen, yet wounds that would persist.
His mother's love, a hollow, starving gaze,
A fragile hope, consumed by endless days.
A stepmother's touch, a violation's blight,
A stolen innocence, forever lost to night.
Now, years have passed, a man of twenty-five,
But echoes linger, where pain used to thrive.
The truth distorted, a twisted, bitter plea,
A desperate cry for love he'll never see.
Anger's fire, a flicker in his soul,
A violent storm, beyond his own control.
The scars remain, invisible yet deep,
A haunting past, where nightmares never sleep.

The house holds its breath when I step inside,  
Its walls, a silent witness to where I’ve cried.  
The floors creak beneath a heavy weight,  
Not just my steps—but pain’s quiet freight.  
The scars on my skin have long since healed,  
But inside, there are wounds I’ve yet to seal.  
The ghost of his hand still burns on my face,  
The kicks and the shoves that time can't erase.  
Every room is a canvas of violent hues,  
A story painted in blacks and blues.  
The air hangs thick, a suffocating dread,  
As memories linger like whispers unsaid.  
His’s grip—too tight to ignore,  
His’s rage—left cracks in the door.  
Now, no marks remain, no outward trace,  
But the ache lingers in this haunted space.  
My chest tightens as if bound by chains,  
Phantom blows reignite buried pains.  
The house is a prison, its walls a snare,  
Each breath a battle with despair.  
But this time, there’s no bruise to see,  
No proof of the storm that rages in me.  
I tell myself this is the last,  
That I’ll leave behind the echoes of the past.  
One day, I’ll walk free from this cursed place,  
Leave behind its ghosts, reclaim my grace.  
Until then, I carry these scars unseen,  
A warrior fighting to break free, to dream.

Trucks and dinosaurs scatter the floor,
Echoes of laughter I desperately adore
With pockets turned inside out, I stand
Wondering how to provide, how to expand

Grocery bills climb like Jack's magic bean,
Shoes outgrown before they're even seen
His eyes bright with needs I long to fulfill,
Each month a juggle, each paycheck a skill

Patches on jeans, hand-me-down shirts,
Trying to hide the financial hurts
One more snack, one more toy he might desire
While I count pennies near the dwindling fire

But love doesn't cost a thing, I remind myself tight
His smile worth more than any monetary might
These boy-sized dreams in my worn-out arms,
Richer than money, safer than harm

Resourceful and strong, a mother's true art
Stretching each dollar with my loving heart
Though struggles are real and the path seems so narrow,
My son is my treasure, my hope, my sparrow

In shadows cast by cruel disdain,
A bully's wrath does cause great pain.
With sharpened words, they seek to harm,
Leaving scars that leave hearts alarm.

They prey upon the vulnerable,
Their actions callous, so terrible.
Intimidation their chosen game,
But their power is truly so lame.

For strength lies not in force or might,
But in the kindness shining bright.
A bully's heart is filled with fear,
A mirror reflecting what's not clear.

Let's stand together, hand in hand,
Against the darkness they command.
With love and empathy, let us rise,
And silence their venomous cries.

In unity, we'll break their hold,
Replacing fear with stories bold.
For every soul deserves respect,
In a world where love we must protect.

Friendship is a bond so dear,
One that fills our hearts with cheer,
Through good times and bad,
We stand together, never sad.
With laughter and joy we share,
And comfort each other when in despair,
A shoulder to cry on, a listening ear,
A friend like you is always near.
In times of need, you're always there,
A true friend, beyond compare,
Forever and always, our bond will last,
For true friendship is never surpassed.

It's those mean girls, so awful and mean,
Their mission in life, to bring others unseen.
Tear down the innocent in their typical way,
Wanting others to hurt like they do each day.
They're manipulative and cruel, bullies in disguise,
Pink cliques and gossip being circulated lies.
The teasing and taunting lurks behind every door,
Bullying is widespread, with a lot to investigate and explore.
The continual put downs, shattered esteem,
Leaves the victim trapped in a state in between.
So cruel and judgemental, mean girls with fake smiles,
Disguising true intentions, lives in denial, stuck up aisle.
They don't realize the harm they wage,
Sprinkle their evil with a casual age.
It's those mean girls, so awful and mean,
Their mission in life, to bring others unseen.