VOICES ON THE INSIDE
Oklahoma
Ever After
by Emmisha S.
Before
Is this what you see?
beyond the multitude of insecurities
beyond these eyes
There’s pain & grief hidden so deep
I never know when it’ll tumble
out of me.
Memories surfacing
tears falling unwanted & unchecked
left feeling bereft, am I depressed?
Constantly stressed these greys
didn’t come from wisdom
This isn’t the end only the beginning
After
You know what I see?
Beauty, strength, confidence
A warrior who fought hard to survive
& succeeded
A queen who rose from the ashes
of a past they tried to use to define her
A woman who broke the ties of
bondage and learned her worth
I was a caged bird, now I sing
Do you see this smile? Some days it
still gets a little sad but most days
even a diamond can’t compete with its radiance.