Stand Tall Poem by Caroline S. P. Keller

Today was not a very good day
At least that’s what I say
It seems like I’ve been pushed and shoved all around
To the point my spirits have been completely trampled to the ground
There’s been yelling, there’s been screaming
I can’t stop my eyes from gleaming
I’ve been hurt and I’ve been given pain
Now my heart is starting to go insane
They yell at me as I sit silently there
Making me wish I wasn’t even here
They spew out useless rage
Making me feel like I’m trapped inside a cage
They don’t seem to care
That what they’re doing to me isn’t fair
I never have a say
And I’m the only one who has to pay
There’s nowhere I feel safe
And I’m starting to lose faith
I want to stand up to the people who are supposed to care
But I’m scared that I might lose them
And that’s something I just couldn’t bare
But then again I don’t want to live like this
I want to go back to the good old days that I now really miss
Where I used to laugh and play
Freely and carelessly every single day
But now look at me
And tell me what you see
You can only see tears and bruises on my face
Because I’ve obviously been put in my place
I remember when my life wasn’t as bad
And when I was never even sad
I’m strong I know it
Because I can take the hit
But when I go to school it’s all the same
But I guess it’s me that I should blame
I must be doing something wrong
For this has been going on for so long
I try to run away from all of it as fast as I can
But maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong
Maybe all I need to do is stand
Stand tall
From it all
And not run away from it
But to conquer all of it
It’s my choice I see
To tell me who I’m supposed to be
How come I’ve never noticed it before?
Did I just completely let it go out the door?
I know what I need to do now
The only question I have is how?
Do I just tell them they don’t control me anymore?
That they just can’t toss my feelings off to the side and onto the floor
Yes, now I know what to say
That they can’t mold me into what they want
Like I’m some piece of clay
Because I’m done trying to build a wall
And I’m final ready to stand tall

© (10/30/11)