Foster child of silence What did you say? You were always instructed to smile It was a woman’s way Your smile is corrugated You eyes sheathed in despair You yearn for a rush of happiness You wear your masks expertly Until your hidden emotions bleed You pace and pray to make them go away But you cannot stay sane in this facade White padded walls embrace you Until your soul is cut in two You finally speak But no one listens to you No light on the horizon Only darkness that ties you down You don nakedness You plant your feet in a potted tree Hoping to go back to a place, safe and serene Instead on the cusp of losing your mind You hear voices calling out Telling you that they love you You look all around for them But remain alone in the padded room Your mental illness you cannot control It is the monster in your heart that wants to let go You gather your strength above no other To put another mask of sanity on your face You play your facade expertly And you are released for a time Until you become a danger to yourself or others again Where is your gratitude? Just for today You have been given multiple chances Of a second chance at life Remove the lock and key from your soul Seek help and slowly let the pain come Don’t let it drown you Some memories have been taken away by God Other’s have endured with his assistance But what is wisdom and life without trial Begin to forgive and begin to heal Let the dragons come head on With your family by your side You are not alone Speak your voice or ink your pen But do not be a victim To the demons inside Take off your running shoes Go barefoot in earth’s paradise Walk to the ends of the Earth And God will kiss your blisters away You will no longer be despondent No longer suffocating in your silence You will remain on the path to freedom Break from the constant Begin to live again Free yourself Find the courage and the voice To say goodbye to the old demons The harmony in your heart is your life giving force