Growing Up Poem by Ronan Dahl

It's night before my twelfth birthday
When I finally gave up
The pain was too much
Too unbearable
Too heavy
Too much for such a little body
Weighing it down

It's the night before my thirteenth birthday
I'm bigger now
Taller maybe
Stronger possibly
But still just as burdened
Still just as broken
Still just as dead behind the eyes

It's the night before my fourteenth birthday
Same old same old
Nothing is noteworthy

It's the night before my fifteenth birthday
The threat of the hospital behind my eyes
But there is some joy

It's the month before my sixteenth birthday
I've been to the emergency room countless times
The mental hospital thrice
And it's still not enough
I yearn to go back
To get away from my family
Away from everything
Away from everyone