Shackles promise freedom
But the laughs of clattering chains
Are pulled back by inner demons
I allow them to remain

Links from past to present
I’m unable to let go
I try so hard to forget
But it’s out of my control

So I cry to know I’m living
And I scream to know I’m here
The pieces are not fitting.
Do you hear me?
I cannot help but wonder
If freedom is near

The world crumbles around me
But I’m chained to the wall
Too attached to what could be
My demons hate me all and all

Suffocating in my past
I’m trying to break free
The world is stable in contrast
To what’s inside of me

So I cry to know I’m living
And I scream to know I’m here
The pieces are not fitting
Do you hear me?
I cannot help but hope
That my freedom is near

We cry to know we’re living
And we scream to know we’re here
The pieces are now fitting
Do you hear me?
**We cannot help but know
That freedom is here.

You do not know who I am,
For I have too many layers to count:

I am a strong woman.
With high regards to others.

I am a scared little girl.
Too afraid to face my fears.

I am the one who blends in.
Never seems to be noticed

I am the loudest in the room.
Voice resounding through the space.

I am beautiful.
But I do not make a big deal about it.

I am ugly.
And I don't feel like putting makeup on today.

I am ****.
And I like to wear tight jeans.

I am lazy.
And I can sometimes only bring myself to wear sweatpants

I am timid.
I do not talk to new people often.

I am confident.
When I wear combat boots and lipstick.

I am a writer.
And my words touch people all over the world.

I am insignificant.
And my words often do not make sense.

I am stupid.
I am never the best, always second.

I am a mother.
Natural born that is, and I often take that role with my sisters.

I am abusive.
And I scare myself with my lack of control.

I am a loner.
I need time to myself to function.

I am a scholar.
I love to learn.

I am a procrastinator.
I should be writing a paper about Kennedy right now.

I am a hippie.
I believe in world peace, and I shop at an earthy store.

I am a punk rocker.
I listen to weird music and I like black leather.

I am an athlete.
Captain of the Volleyball and Softball team.

I am damaged.
Sexually assaulted and mildly depressed.

I am triumphant.
I can forgive him.

I laugh at inappropriate times.
Because it seems better than crying.

I am seen.
I am heard.
I am understood.
I am loved.

She wanted to live forever.
She wanted to see the world
Travel, sing, dance in the streets.
She wanted to perform for eternity
Never losing her youth
Never losing her zest.
Yes, she wanted to live forever,
But she died trying.

Idle ambitions
And unattainable goals
Squandered by those
Who don’t even know

They don’t know where you’ve been
They’ll never know where you’ll go
They won’t give you a chance
To even show them your soul.
They can’t comprehend that
There is so much more
Behind those green eyes
In that mind of yours.

Anxieties raise
As they wander below
Unable to relax until
You are finally alone
Alone with your thoughts
And alone with your dreams
The ones you’ll never say
The ones you can never speak

**They don’t know where you’ve been
They’ll never know where you’ll go
They won’t give you a chance
To even show them your soul
They can’t comprehend that
There is so much more
Behind those green eyes
In that mind of yours.