I wasn’t raised to be meek 

Don’t depend on people, it makes you weak

I was told to listen, and watch, but never speak

My mother was strong, as she taught me to be

But as a child, seeing your mother struggle

That’s not something you want to see.

My father wasn’t around but it was okay

Mommy brought home new friends almost every single day

“I want you to like him, he’s important to me”

Is that what you would say to 6-year-old me?

6 year old me who didn’t know their names

Who had no clue who the men were but were told to obey?

Watch as mommy gets screamed and cursed at

Watch as mommy cries into her pillow at night

Watch as the woman in front of me loses her fight

My friends had dads that supported them

Who dressed up and drank tea with them

I wanted a dad who would be there 

But I guess he just didn’t care

The rage from within grew as I did

Yet at heart, I was still a little kid

I played with my barbies and minded what I said

Yet Mommy and Daddy were never there to put me to bed

Getting older was a silver lining

I was mature and didn’t care about movie nights or family dining

I became a void, sat alone in my room

Only my ghosts remained, smothered in impetuous gloom

I’m still growing, only now it’s different

I don’t see the world in the same way

I’m almost an adult, much to my mother’s dismay

Life isn’t about black and white

But various shades of grey 

Although I’ve learned to let things rest

I still stand tall and merely protest

A child should be a child

Nothing more, nothing less