Stand Tall

                                                               

When you look at me

What do you see?

Do you see a rose

Standing tall and straight?

 

Or do you see a sponge?

All wet and limp

As its being squeezed

One too many times?

 

When you look at me

Do you see beauty

Or do you see ugliness

All crumpled up and used?

 

Do you see someone

Who is strong and stable

Or someone who is unable

To stand on their own

 

Because when I see you

I crack into pieces

And try to withdraw

So you cannot hurt me again

 

But I say no more to that

I want to be strong

To have the keys to my castle

And keep my heart safe

 

Boundaries need to be raised

Protection put into place

So you cannot come in

And try to dominate

 

I want to stand tall

and start to take control

to relish in my identity

and believe my roots are planted deep

 

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

November 2022