If I Were You

Sometimes you're holding an angel, and you never even know.

 

IF I WERE YOU

 

If I were you, I'd hold her close.

Learn the color of her eyes, and let her know:

How precious she is - one of a kind;

The way she has saved me, and graced my life.

 

If I were you, I'd treat her right;

Know her worth in my worthless life.

Instead of gifting her with red bruises and blue-black eyes,

I'd adorn her with love - never let her go out of sight.

 

If I were you, I'd live in each hour,

And make them count, instead of leaving scars.

I'd give her love the value it deserves,

And memorize all her lines and misfit curves.

 

If I were you, I'd make it till the end.

Even if it felt wrong, or, if I had to pretend.

For you were not alone, anymore - there was your baby girl;

It was a conscious decision to bring the child into this world.

 

If I were you, I'd hold them close.

Listen to them, and let them know:

How precious they are - such a gift of life;

The way they saved me, and made my dreams aligned.

 

So, if I were you, I'd still be alive.

And shelter the family you've left behind.

But these are just words, and write is all I can do.

For, you're not here, and I'm not you.

*  *  *

Author's Note

Suggestions would be most welcome.

Reviews

[θεά]

This is very well written. A poem which can have multiple subjects for whom it is written, could be a father writing about his daughter, an admirer writing about a girl, or a witness to the abuses a girl is enduring in the hands of a not so caring man. I am proud of what you have achieved here as a mouthpiece to speak out against violence and abuse.

Despite its theme, it is not a laborious read, has a free flow to its stanzas and I would recommend this to be taken up as a poster cry for women's rights.

Best wishes,
M.

[Sally Hope]

Thank you for such a wonderful review, Mallika. It means so much to me that you think this piece could be used as a poster-cry for women's rights, specially considering the state of women around the world in recent times. Thank you again for taking the time to read this.

[Willard Wells]

Very sad tale and words of an abusive situation. So many abused for doing so little or in most case nothing at all. Thank you for a beautiful piece with true meaning and truth.

[Sally Hope]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read it. It means a lot :)

[Dana Ferguson]

Beautiful, the words flow so smoothly. I very much enjoyed reading this, thanks for sharing :)

[Sally Hope]

Thanks for taking the time to read this, Dana. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this :)

[h d e rushin]

extremely touching.......well done...dana

[Sally Hope]

Thank you for stopping by, Dana. It really means a lot that you liked it.

[Coyote Poetry]

This is a sad story. My brother killed himself with girlfriend with child. The child is 30 years old and she wants to talk to me. What can you say? The poem is very good. Left the reader with something to think about. I tell people. All of us get tired. But we must go forward for the children and the family. When someone leave us too soon. Leave a empty place in us forever. Thank you Sally for sharing the powerful poetry.
Coyote

[Sally Hope]

I'm so humbled, right now. Each of us has a life, but what we forget is that our lives are not isolated islands, that there are other people in it whose lives revolve and cross ours. Humans can be infinitely selfish, Coyote. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Coyote Poetry]

A powerful write and you are welcome.

[Johnny]

WOW SALLY!!! It had a flow that I describe as silk!!! Without hitch in the stream! the rhyme scheme was like wax to a film of ice!! SUPERB! I am humbled and wish I can measure up to art such as yours! :)

[Sally Hope]

I'm honored :) Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm so glad you liked it.

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Bravo Sally!
Poignant and brutally honest write!
It is a shame that even now, there is indeed a need to make people realise the worth of women in their lives, be it their mother, daughter, wife or sister.
A beautiful poem that pierced my heart with its imagery!
Absolutely loved the piece, especially the way you ended it!
Adding this to my favorites' list! :)
Keep writing.

[Sally Hope]

This is spooky. I was reviewing your poem "Twist of Fate" at the exact same time you were reviewing this piece :O. Anyway, thanks so much for taking the time to read this. As you said, it's a shame the way women still get treated. I'm glad that you liked this :)

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

A nice coincidence!
You are very welcome :)

[alifeacoustic]

Beautiful, heartfelt words Sally. We should all live in the moment and treat people the way we always should. You just never know when it will be the last memory of you or the last moment they will remember.

[Sally Hope]

Thank you :) What you said is so profound: We never know which one is our last breath. I'm glad that you liked it.

[Insight "MH"]

I love these two lines the most:

If I were you, I'd treat her right;

Know her worth in my worthless life.

It's sad how some people don't value the people that matter the most. Thank you for sharing this nicely written poem.

Insight.

[Sally Hope]

Thank you so much, Insight, for taking the time to read this. I'm glad you liked it :)

[Insight "MH"]

You are most welcome.