You Stole My Youth Poem by Emma Mulwa

I sit on this chair fuming,
How could you?
How could you do that to me?
I feel like you took my entire youth away...

I watch my friends relaxing, focusing on school, boys, parties and all the fun stuff.
As I watch them I ask myself why?

Why do I have so many responsibilities?
Why can't I be a kid like everyone else?
YOU STOLE THAT FROM ME! ! ! ! !

I worry about you night and day,
My prayers begin with you as I ask God for strength and pardon.

I watch myself give you money and I ask myself when last did I spend money on myself?
Enter a shop and just spend......
Not worrying about how much money I have to give you.
Not worrying if you have eaten,
Not worrying if you're warmly dressed.

As anger builds inside of me,
I curse the very day you picked up that brown bottle.
On that day
Kindness left,
Patience left,
Gentleness left and opened doors to
ANGER
BITTERNESS
VIOLENCE
Sadly to say, from my childhood I remember this side of you most.

Though you've stolen a part of me I can never have back,
I cant forget you...
I cant forsake you...
I LOVE YOU
I CARE ABOUT YOU SO MUCH I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.

I long for that moment I can freely spread my wings and fly knowing that you are looking after yourself.
As the possibility of it actually happening burns within me,
the light it projects lifts me with hope.
Hope to see the dreams of a girl whose dreams were shattered at a point come true.
To see her smile knowing it's genuine,
to see her do what her heart truly desires without feeling guilty.

Though I'm sad and heartbroken,
you deserve to be happy.
Cause despite all your mistakes and deserting me for five years you deserve better....