(from Art from Ashes workshop on Beautiful & Broken)
I remember...
I don't remember what I did
But my father said I was
Lower than the earthworms
In the dirt.
I remember...
I lied about my grades
My mom said
That if a dot on a sheet
Of paper was a sin
Then mine was
Black.
I remember...
The boy beat me
On our own
Property
Dad said I
Deserved it
Because I didn't
Get the boy
In secret
But in public…
I deserved to
Be beaten.
I remember...
She thanked me for
Saving her life
By having the courage
To write about mine.
I remember...
She thanked me
For inspiring her
Because of my
Poetry she doesn't
Cut her wrists anymore.
I remember...
She saw my chalk art
And told me I was
Good because I took
My time…
I remember...
She invited me to
Sarasota where
The master painter
Remarked
My colors were
Brilliant.
