Deep in the middle
of the Irish midlands,
my essence is all over.

You’d put one foot inside
and say I haven’t changed—
hoarding sentimental knick-knacks,
all valueless, all lovely,
all me.

You’d put one foot inside,
it’s cozy and it’s warm,
all irrelevant, all lonely,
all me.

On a cold November evening, she met herself
Her reflection was shivering; confident,
Her lips cold; her smile warm
On a cold November evening, she saw herself

Her eyes sparkled with humor in time with the gentle dance of the snow,
Each snowflake a waltz reflecting her mood
And she asked herself, how did you get here, me?
How did you escape your cage?

And she answered, oh darling, I never did.
The cage simply outgrew me, and the iron bars scraped my arms
I hurt myself no longer, but I still hurt
And yet it was all worth it, to see that look in your eyes

On a cold November evening, she walked away
Those iron bars so far from her hopeful face -
A cage so big she didn’t understand how she could ever leave
And yet the phantom pain on her arms was a promise
That this wasn’t forever.

This is my voice,                                                           ­                                           
                                                                ­                                                      
pen & paper pain                                                             ­                                   
                                                                ­                                                      
I've made the choice                                                           ­                                     
                           ­                                                                 ­                            
to blot the stain                                                            ­                                                  
              ­                                                                 ­                               
Band-Aid pulled off,                                                             ­                                                           
     ­                                                                 ­                                                  
let the wound bleed                                                            ­                          
                                                                ­                                                      
Yes, it is
tough                                                           ­                                                                 ­                                                                 ­                                         
but it's what I
need                                                             ­                                       
                         ­                                                                 ­                              
I can't pretend                                                          ­                                    
                            ­                                                                 ­                   
  that I am
  fine                                                          ­                                          
                      ­                                                                 ­                             
so, I use my pen                                                              ­                                
                                ­                                                                 ­                    
 to speak my
  mind                                                          ­                                  
                              ­                                                                 ­             
Journal
everything,                                                      ­                                    
                                                                ­                                            
getting it all
out                                                              ­                                  
                              ­                                                                 ­           
because doing
nothing                                                          ­                        
                                        ­                                                                 ­             
is a silent shout

I am beautiful
I am unique
I am everything everyone compliments me on
I am talented
I am gifted
I am amazing at what I do
I am kind
I am generous
I am too nice at times
I am not what people have called me
I am not the lies I tell myself
I am not the thoughts that keep me awake at night
I am not my mother
I am not what I call myself
I am not me
I am not what I look like on the outside
I am what people hear when they speak to me
I am the sweet words of encouragement that I talk to you
I am sorry
I am sorry for myself
I am not my mother
I am not my mom
I am me
I am here
I am present
I am alive
I am not what I look like
I am not a failure
I am good
I am me
I am a promise kept forever
I am lied to forever
I am forever
I am living a life my mother would be jealous of
I am me and

i don’t need to glow up.
i need to grow in.
deeper roots,
kinder thoughts,
a life that feels like mine.

- M

You all have
A little bit of
"I want to save the world!"
In you

I just want you to know
That it's ok
If you only save
One person
And it's okay
If that person
Is you

Life
Goodbyes, Hellos
Dreams, Responsibilities
Wishes, Sacrifices
Vows, regrets
Closed roads , open paths
Planned , more unexpected
Moving on, moving forward

Life
Smile, tears
Hurt, heal
Cries, lessons
Lost, love
Broken, rebuilt
Strangers, friends
Friends, fake identities
Moments, memories

Life
Struggles, achievements
Waiting, winning
Fall, Rise
Risks, rewards
Doubts, confidence
Fail, comeback

Life
Born,
Break,
Heal,
Break ,
Rise,
Grow,
Shine.

Everyone's breaking off their pieces,                                                          ­                                                                 ­                                                                 ­      
                                                                ­                                              
  leaving me broken & so empty                                                            ­            
                                                    ­                                                                 ­   
As long as they fulfill their needs                                                            ­        
                                                        ­                                                                
in the end who cares who bleeds?                                                          ­                  
                                              ­                                                                
­Tugging on the scraps of what's left                                                             ­                                 
                               ­                                                                 ­                
pulling at the heart in my chest                                                            ­              
                                                  ­                                                              
They get their fill they leave the rest                                                        
                                                                ­                                                
finally feeling sated, I clean up their mess                                                          
  ­                                                                 ­                                                   
I thought that what I gave to them                                                             ­           
                                                     ­                                                       
would be returned to me in the end                                                              ­                      
                                                                ­                                          
Leaving me sick with my confusion                                                        ­            
                                                                ­                                                    
all I am is & disillusioned                                                    ­                              
                                                                ­                                              
Never give your love away
 you may need it yourself, someday

Have you ever held on to a love you know is already gone?                            
                                                                ­                                                        
Are they all you think about when you hear a certain song?                                    
                                                                ­                                                  
Have you ever reached out to an empty bed at night?                                                           ­                     
                                                                ­                                                      
Just to feel the repercussions of always being right                                                
                                                                ­                                                      
Did you ever breakdown because you miss them so
much,                                    
                                                                ­                                                  
have you ever closed your eyes to remember their touch?                                        
                  ­                                                                 ­                                   
Do you ever wish that you could reverse
time,                                              
                                                                ­                                                        
change everything that has happened, make it all
fine ?                                       
                   ­                                                                 ­                          
Have you ever sat alone in an empty room,                                        
                                                                ­                                                
with pictures & cards that say, ''I love
you?''                                                           ­           
                                                     ­                                                         
Have you ever had such a badly broken heart,                                                    
      ­                                                                 ­                                             
you don't know how to begin or know how to
start                                                  
                                                                ­                                                     
 It happened to me, I must confess the
truth,                                                           ­       
                                                         ­                                                         
my broken heart is the ultimate proof                                                      
                                                                ­                                                      
If there's something I can say to help
you,                                                    
        ­                                                                 ­                                           
It's to thrown yourself back into loving
you                                                    
         ­                                                                 ­                                      
Toss away those things that remind you of them,                                          
                 ­                                                                 ­                                    
it's the best way for you to start living again                                                
                                                                ­                                    
Remember how beautiful you can be,                                                              ­                  
                                              ­                                                                 ­ 
take the time to find the "real me"                                                      
       ­                                                                 ­                                          
Get up, get out, go with your
friends                                                          ­              
                                                                ­                                                
soon you'll find your hearts on the mend                                                          
  ­                                                                 ­                                                   
 If you ever find yourself in love
again,                                                           ­     
                                                                ­                                      
remember always being right can make that end