A shovel digs deep,
Loosening dirt.
Moving heaps of debris,
Muscles hurt.
Dust flies and rocks shift,
Does anyone know what hard work is worth?

I'm here, right now, moving the dirt.
Displacing the garbage.
Shoveling.

Sifting through these nasty things,
I realize they're mine.
Every negative thing I've said or done
Has stacked up over time.

This job I've been given,
I'm not too thrilled.
I'm to remove the bad,
The ugly, the chilled.
Find the good.
Start to rebuild.

Although I'm unhappy with the amount of *******,
I know there's treasure somewhere.
I haven't seen it in quite some time.
But I know it's gotta be there.
I buried it by focusing on the garbage,
And now it's lost, life is so unfair.

So here I am, lost and alone.
Digging and sifting.
Wishing someone, anyone, would throw me a bone.

Concealed by night, we fly.
Smokes in one hand, ***** in the other.
Anything is possible,
Just don't tell my mother.

Adrenaline rushes as fingers touch brass.
Footsteps muffle and hinges sass.
Bad intentions and language, crass.
I let his hands trespass.

My mind is fuzzy,
My words are slurred.
Lines once bold,
Now, are blurred.

This moment is wonderful,
I feel light as a feather!
When morning comes,
I'll be under the weather...

Who is this girl?
I've never met her.

Decisions made.
Parents forbade.
Boys played.
Preyed.

The blame is on me,
I turned into this.
Call me a ****,
But don't give me your fist.

Cause when I bounce back,

You'll be first on my list.

I've been ignoring you for a while now.
Trying to forget and live my life.
I'm moving on, dismissing your imprisonment.
Leaving the pain, burying the strife.

But today, I thought of you.
I wondered how you were doing.
I know you called dad.
I heard the phone ring.

My wonder ceased, and I remembered:
That I stopped caring when our family was fractured.

Sticks and stones, she said.
They'll break my bones.
Words won't hurt me.
She lied, I feel alone.

Words break more,
They call me *****,
Slam me into locker doors,
I can't take much more!

Words are painless! she said.
My being is shattered.
In death, I'll wonder,
Did my life even matter?

Bricks and mortar build a wall,
Paint and pictures make a hall,
Drapes and comforters make the bedroom,
Basements are dark, and full of gloom.
This is a house that is ready for living,
The people inside are happy and grinning.

I'll take the bricks and the mortar,
Place them around me, to make a border
To keep out pain and evil things.
Keep out anything Satan brings.

Slowly, but surely, these bricks make a wall,
It's nothing special, more like a stall.
Just something that keeps me comfortable and warm,
Not pretty or perfect, but safe from harm.

I'm sick to my stomach to know about prison,
My sinister side is bound to be smitten,
With how long they'll keep you. I don't really mind.
There's no desire to see you deep inside.

My wall grows stronger with each mistake made,
Taller and wider with each drink you take.
I can feel the pain slipping away,
As I stack the bricks to keep my heart safe.