my own parents
did not realize
for years
and years
the abuse
and
the torture
i went through
every time i walked a
few steps outside my house
greeting my neighbor

i remember the door locking
i remember them turning around afterwards
and smiling at me
"what do we have here"
he would say

i remember shaking
i remember wanting to run
i remember thinking
of jumping out the window
because that was the only escape
my seven year old self could think of
then everything goes black
and suddenly
i remember nothing

fast forward a few years
i am having *** with a boy from my school
knowing this means nothing
feeling nothing
my body has turned cold
my body has shed its weight in worry
my body just skin and bones

my mother never
told my father he claims now
my parents
they both knew
how could they not
how could they not
how could they not
how could they
not see the lifeless 7 year old
who returned home that day

how could they let me into that house

Great great great
Great
Grandpa
Pa
Son
This is our time
We have been called
To say NO! MORE violence
Against woman and children
They can become great if we
Become the CATALYST

It has become
a hallway for passersby
they enjoy the stories
I hung on its walls
and stroll off
to the next
exhibition

What baffles me
is that most of them
do not see
the "home sweet home" sign
that I hung
at the entrance
of
my
heart

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away,
Poor doctor's wife,
The choice is hers,
The doctor or the Apple.

You're nice,
Not just nice, but really caring,
Risky of me to say, but I'm daring,
Cause no boy,
Not just a boy,
No man wants to hear that he's nice.

You're giving,
Not just rarely, but always giving,
Even without thinking, just always willing,
To me,
Not just to me,
But everyone we know.

Your diplomatic,
Not just fair, but really clever,
Easily bringing people back together,
With reason,
Not just what you say,
But your whole attitude.

Your understanding,
Not just patient, but calming and gentle,
Even when everyones going a bit mental,
Okay,
Not just everyone,
But mainly me.

I'm selfish,
Spoilt and moody and causing trouble,
Been living in my own little bubble,
For long,
Not just long,
But forever before I met you.

But you're nice
So perfect, it makes me look at me,
And re-evaluate the way I want to be,
Better,
Not just better,
But more like you.