Rising Above Poem by Reena Marie

This poem captures the journey of resilience and recovery from childhood abuse. It tells the story of someone who endured persistent verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse from a stepfather who constantly predicted failure and labeled them negatively—often when the mother wasn't present to witness it. The poem documents how these harmful prophecies ('You'll amount to nothing, ' 'devil's child, ' predictions of teenage pregnancy) failed to materialize, despite the confining and controlling environment created by the abuser. Instead, the narrator found inner strength to withstand the damage and eventually break free. The transformation from victim to survivor is portrayed through the gradual reclaiming of personal power and identity. While acknowledging that healing isn't instantaneous—'scars remain' and 'echoes linger'—the poem emphasizes the ongoing journey of building a self-determined life beyond the trauma. 'Rising Above' speaks to anyone who has had to overcome childhood trauma, particularly within family settings, and offers hope that while the past cannot be erased, it need not dictate one's future. The final stanza affirms the power of authoring one's own story rather than living the narrative imposed by an abuser.