Despite Our Efforts Poem by Maya Reid

I always knew that a piece of you was missing
You were always a mystery to me
I was intrigued
And before I knew it, you were inside
And then I was hooked
You’re like a drug
And I was addicted
I had you
And I wasn’t ever gonna let you go
You came to me when your world was in crisis
I held the sky up
Guided you as you moved
And was there when the world crumbled anyway
Despite my efforts
Or maybe in spite of them
But you were not harmed
I call you my Thimble
And you know that you’re my rib
But did you know
That you’re my heart, too
And since you are my heart
I try to be your ribs
Your armor
And not only your protector
But your archaeologist
You excavator as well
Digging up secrets and memories
Because
Despite your efforts
Or maybe in spite of them
Your eyes
They never lie
They’re so fluid
Almost liquid
Seems like you’re always crying inside
And that little boy you
He died inside
Taking all your innocence
Hopes
And dreams
To the grave with him
I’ve been trying
To help you
Bring him back to life
But this jungle is no place
To try to raise a child
Despite our efforts
Or maybe in spite of them
It’s a jungle out there
The jungle surrounds us
So thick
It’s everywhere
And the lions are the law
If you don’t fight the jungle
Every minute
Every second of the day
It will grow
And bury you
Turn your back to the lions
Even for a moment
And they will pounce
Knock you flat
And rip you to shreds
Ignore their laws
And they’ll eat you alive
But they’ll never get to you
And they’ll never touch the little boy again
You’ve got a panther to fend them off
To bite back when they snap at you
A panther
That will never leave your side
Who wants only to keep you
Out of the jungle
But beware even your panther
She’s been studying the lion’s ways
For far too long
Somewhere along the way
Her teeth and claws grew sharper
Her growl deeper and her eyes more vicious
Somewhere along the way
Despite her efforts
Or maybe in spite of them
Your panther became one of the lionesses.