"Mama, I can't sleep. There are monsters," I would say.
Mother shook her head and chuckled.
"Don't worry. It's all in your head, sweetie."
She tucked me in, kissed my forehead and laid beside me until I fell asleep.
I was four.

"Mama, I can't sleep. There are monsters," I would say.
Mother shook her head and sighed.
"There aren't any monsters. It's all in your head."
She tucked me in, kissed my forehead then went to bed.
I was ten.

"I can't sleep. There are monsters," I would say.
Mother would leave the room without saying a word.
I never saw her much after that.
I was fourteen.

"I can't sleep. There are monsters," I would say.
No one would listen.
"It's your head," the doctors would say.
Nurses gave me pills to help me fall asleep.
I was seventeen.

"I can't slee-" They wouldn't let me finish my sentence.
Nurses rushed in to strap me into the bed.
They injected something into my arm to make me fall asleep.
I never made it to eighteen.

<a.t>

the creation of my verses
is quite simple
as soon as an idea pops
into my cranial cavity
I get my pen scribing
rather quickly
for if I think too long
before I commencing writing
the notion I have in mind
is sure to escape
once that pop
comes into being
I  immediately start composing
a piece of poetry

If I had a daughter….

I would love her every day
I would protect her as a mother should
I would teach her all I know….
What a daughter should know

I would give her my unconditional love
I would tell her all the wonders that she is
As a beautiful, wonderful, human being

I will tell her she needs never be afraid
Of what other people say
Just always know that she is someone special
And I will love her ever day

"I don't love you from the bottom of my heart, but the core of my soul."