This was written a couple of years ago and orginally posted under PrintDust. I am consolodating my accounts to keep things more organized. I also cleaned up some errors and fixed some lines that were not working for me.
It was written for Sara, who I imagine would have had a pretty tough childhood. Not just at home but at school also.
Pretend to be happy,
Force a smile.
And maybe they'll believe you're okay,
For a while.
So you won't have to explain,
Or make lame excuses,
And they won't see the tears,
Or the scars or the bruises.
It's not like they'd care,
Even if they knew,
They are content to show off
Their hockey cards or
New shoes.
You could never be like that,
Though you'd like to belong,
But you're awkward and weird,
And what you say comes out wrong.
And your backpacks too swollen,
With library books,
And you don't have the grace,
And you don't have the looks.
You're too tall and too thin,
And your pants don't fit right,
Your face is pale, your eyes swollen,
From when you cry late at night.
And you wish you didn't hear,
And you wish you couldn't see,
So you'd still be lonely,
But at least you'd be free.
You wouldn't have to pretend
Or force a smile,
And you could really be okay,
If just for a while.