‘REFLECTIONS’ ORIGINAL POETRY BY MARY DAVID
WHAT LOVE IS
To everyone who has sought to learn and unlearn the meaning of love.
Love is birthed
dressing up and showing the world ho
Plus, he was charming and smooth
when life
perfect your life is.
and for the first time
springs fort
Mama would smile
I felt beautiful.
Between a mother and her child.
She and Daddy’d hold hands. And they’d
Only I never got that “choice.
The first faces that welcomed me
Beam at me
If I ever did say no,
to this space we call
for playing the part.
Life
That’s how I learned what love is.
he would beat me so badly I barely survived.
I didn’t understand
He reminded me that I was worthless – but he chose me anywa
I don’t know what they said
when Daddy came into my room
and that was something,
But the kept me alive.
and told me to undress
it was everything, especially since I was
They were all I knew.
and to keep it a secret.
Nothing
That’s how I learned what love is.
I said I didn’t like it,
were my parents.
but he said I was his They taught me how to walk.
Favorite
How to spea
That’s how I learned what love is.
That’s how I learned what love is. If it weren’t for the day that he left me for dea
How to rea They taught me
Sometimes I felt dirt
I’d probably be dead.
Not to cry
Sometimes I felt confuse
But once he was gon
when daddy reached
But when I crie
I started to come back
for the bottle
Daddy said I was rotten
or when the neighbors
And I believed him.
The flashbacks are rea
called the cops
That’s how I learned what love is.
But so is my progress In my healing, I found
at Mama screamin so loud you were sure someone had died.
When Mama found out,
Forgivenes
That’s how I learned what love is.
I was relieved as much as I was scared.
for myself, and for my journe
Until she got jealous.
I found strength and I found hop
They taught me to ac
And called me a whore.
in who I am becoming.
Toug
That’s how I learned what love is.
I saw through all the pai My WORTH.
Forget those awful things! Sundays
That’s why I felt empowered
This is how
are for
when the guy I ran away with told m
I know
smiling at churc
Now, I would get money
what love is
laughing gladl
and a choice of yes or no
MARY DAVI Actress, Spoken Word Artist, Activist & Lawyer www.awarenessties.us/marydavid Mary is a storyteller and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual trauma. Drawing from experiences of overcomers of trauma and her own journey from victim to survivor, Mary creates powerful narratives and highlights pivotal realities through television and lm, legal advocacy, and beyond. As a United Nations Advisor on Women and Children’s Issues, Mary defended the rights of domestic violence victims and disenfranchised populations before the United Nations General Assembly. She also handled nearly 2,000 criminal cases as a prosecutor in Baltimore City, including numerous cases of assault and sex crimes. When not creating art, Mary promotes the advancement of women and ending gender-based violence as Communications Director of UN Women’s Los Angeles chapter.
www.IamAwareNow.com fi
w
e
e
”
y
d
y
n
l
.
t
d
e
.
y
,
.
h
d
D
y
k
.
h
s
d
.
.
h
15 AWARENOW / THE HEART EDITION
