I Was - I Am (My Life In Paragraphs) Poem by S Langley

I was young when I started to cast my pearls before swine,
Mistaking sex for love was the biggest flaw of mine.
Grew up without my daddy, so I was attracted to older men
Of course all the things I know now, are what I needed then.

I was confident until timidity had come to take its place
I was courageous and vibrant until my spirit lost its grace.
I was as delicate as a flower and as pretty as could be
Until I boarded a '(relation) ship' that floated me right into misery.

I was mentally stable, until I became confused,
And I was also quite the giver until I started feeling used.
I was submissive until trust was broken, and peaceful until warring began
I was quiet until silence was knocked out of me by man.

I was living in front of people but hid my life very well
They never saw the bruises or my eyes when they would swell.
They never knew I was strangled or about the scars all over my heart
I was too ashamed to tell them, didn't know where I would start.

But now I've overcome, more than a conqueror I am
Got my stuff together, had to change my life program.
I am positive and assertive, fear cannot come take its place
I am brave and I am lively and I am living under grace.
I am strong like a rock and as beautiful as can be
And I only board the ships headed towards my destiny.

I am able to think and reason clearly, clothed in my right mind
Confusion - a thing of that past that I have left behind.
I am giving where help is needed, and will not be taken advantage of
I gained obedience and tranquility, and my heart is full of love.
I am the strongest of voices and no one can ever again take that away again.
I will shout upon the mountain tops and in the end I'll always win.

Although I prefer to be in the background I am never out of sight
For I now have beauty for ashes, and instead of darkness I now have light.
My skin is all one color and my eyes are bright and brown
My neck is encompassed by gold and those scars are now jewels in my crown.
Although I was abused, and although I still may fall
I am delivered, I am healed and I am standing tall.