I am powerful because I had to be.

Tears flow, they drown my eyes;
the worst of them all: silent cries
where every inch of me starts to crumble,
my mind near the gutter, starting to tumble.

A negative mind shatters me piece by piece;
bullies instilled it - for being too ugly or obese.
Lonliness crept in like a thief in the night
as 'friends' became less and less overnight.

Years passed me by and age made no real change
I was beaten daily, made to feel like I was deranged
by the person I adored but he began showing his fists
that's when I realised life has it's own paths and twists.

Mentally, emotionally and sexually abused -
he the perpetrator was more than amused -
handed me alcohol and forced me to drink
tortured my mind; I thought I was on the brink.

Life wasn't easy but again it's made to test us all,
gives each of us a fight to see if we break and fall
or are we strong enough to overcome tyrants, fight?
Can we stand out in the crowd, stand up for what's right?

It taken me many years to build the strength to leave -
"it's finally over now Em, you're courageous, now breathe."
It's taken me 32 years of being pushed down to finally fight back
but here I am - I'm brave, I'm strong, I'm finally on the right track.

©Em