Plucking Feelings Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Turning the volume up, trying to get away from everything -
not having to think - just rebel and go inside myself.

Letting the music fill me totally, absorbing feelings,
allowing me to stuff them deep inside so I may continue to
hide from others what I don't want them to see.

Riding high on melodies, taking me away to a safe place
where no one else can reach me.

Plucking away at feelings, notes stir up everything to
be swallowed and not allowed to think through them.

Afraid of letting any one of the secrets out, always in
total control of self, no one knowing me, not even self.

Allowing others to say what I was, having no choice, losing
myself, my identity, back somewhere when I was four.

When I didn't know any better and thought people who loved
you could only say what you were.

Yet, life-long habits, buried deep in a child's mind, don't
have any idea of how to break out and grow in their own time.