THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.
In a world of shadows, I found my start,
Childhood scarred by pain and broken parts.
A tale of wounds, both deep and bright,
Finding my path, lost through this night.
Twisted relatives, distant and cold,
Love and care they never showed.
Witnessed fights, a dreaded scheme,
Trapped in cage, a bitter dream.
A tapestry of trauma woven tight,
Each memory a thread, a sleepless night.
For their fight like thunder in the air,
A constant storm that life couldn't repair.
My mother's pain etched upon her face,
Her struggles hidden in life's cruel embrace.
I stood as a guardian, though just a child,
To shield her heart, so fragile and wild.
A thousand tears, a silent sea,
Drowning in unbearable misery.
A life held by a fragile thread,
I stepped forth, where angels tread.
Torn between hope and aching dread,
I tread the path where emotions spread.
Watching battles escalate, voices rise,
Innocence lost beneath broken skies.
Tear-strained nights and lonely days,
Chasing the sun's elusive rays.
In books and knowledge, I sought my peace,
And achiever's spirit, a release.
But years roll on, the pain persists,
A family bound by fragile twists.
The fear of breaking, constant unrest,
A heavy burden that's hard to forget.
Days just pass, the weight still clings,
Uncertainty like phantom wings.
The looming thread of bond undone,
Fierce arguments beneath the sun.
Yet deep within, a flicker glows,
A longing for the love that grows.
For smiles to be real, not just a mask,
A family's bond, bound to unmask.
So I held on tight, my heart's refrain,
Trials endured, through the pouring rain.
In the depths of darkness, I plant a seed,
For a future where love is all we need.
Through the story of pain, I'll find my way,
Hoping for a brighter, peaceful day.
A chapter of healing, of love's embrace,
To mend the wounds, to find our place.