My Truth Why are you so opposed to
won’t make a sound
completing the work that’s assigned
Words like anchors
Maybe it’s because I’m trapped in
Keeping me from the sky
mind
It’s even worse when it’s an authority
Constantly cycling over and over
figure
A voice whispering words into
I guess I figured that you of all people
my ears, has me looking over my
would try and help me rise
shoulder
However, adults like all humans feel
Why aren’t you successful
the need to characterize
You shouldn’t find this stressful
Rather than seeing me as a human
Why can’t you be better
with a name
An ambitious goal setter
You treated me as though I were a
Anything, anyone would be worth
mess of a person who was always to
more than you
blame
There’s nothing you can even do
I suppose I should thank you after all
Right
Because you along with the many
Well I suppose I can write
others are the reason I now stand tall
Your a coward
Able to utter the words that once
You pour your words onto paper
couldn’t escape my lips
Because you can’t speak the truth in
Now I feel powerful from my head to
real life you’re a faker
the tips
And what good are your words
Of my toes
haphazardly mixed together
Where hopelessness once filled
Anyone and everyone can write
my body there now only the fire of
better, than you
defiance
I try everyday to convince myself that
The joy that comes with self reliance
it’s not true
And the strength to battle on another
That I am worth something
day
But it’s not an easy thing to do
To fight the tide of darkness and to
Especially when the words I hear
speak about the struggles I’ve never
from the people near supposedly dear
known how to convey
Drag me down so low that I am
So that others too may find the hope
brought to the ground
And will be able to cope
Even now when I speak I’m afraid I
Until they feel free and are able fly
Ilana Mohamed—3rd Place, 11/12 Spoken Word
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