Paper Bag Poem by Alyssa Lynn

Cover up go away, go ahead covering yourself in a paper bag. Live in the dark; don’t let em see you cry when in the back of your head you don’t understand why. Why? Why do I carry on with the world on my shoulders asking magazines for advice? Why do I carry on dreaming of when I’m older why doesn’t it feel right? Why do I keep hiding my face from the world, maybe the truth is I’m not like other girls…..
Insecure and breaking don’t dare to see the aching, this mask of so called “confidence” I can’t wear. Broken and bleeding you can’t hear me screaming; can’t you see I’m no where? Why do I carry on hiding myself from the world? Why do I live this lie thinking I’m nobody? They beat me, they crush me. They scream lies in my ear (in my ear) , they tell me I’m ugly that I’m good for nothing wish I wasn’t here….
(Cover up go away) Shut your mouths today cuz for too long I’ve lived in the shadows, too long I’ve been afraid to fall. Too long I’ve replayed the criticism don’t tell me I can’t crawl. Too long I’ve heard you scream nothing but lies in my ears, but the cracks of that girl have gone away, as the insults disappear. Embracing myself, brushing off the lies, wiping down all the tears, it turns out I’m stronger now without the paper bag.