Lost Soul

She sits impassively on the second hand sofa

the tags of her clothing size 0/2

in her postage stamp size apartment

sewage backing up in the shower

that she pays for working two part time

dead end jobs for minimum wage

doping herself up to deal with non-existent dangers

imaginary injuries

boogeymen she's birthed herself

Not once as a child was she sent to bed without dinner

or told she was ugly, stupid, or unwanted

denied a doctor when she was injured or ill

by her mother who was supposed to love her

as I endured for eighteen long years

all the things I promised her when she first

was placed in my arms she would never know

She looks like Margot Robbie or Marilyn Monroe

Everyone tells her so

She could be everything I wanted to be

do all the things I ever dreamed to do

if she wanted to

Reviews

[light and ashes]

I am confused by this write. Why would anyone live like this unless they had to? Maybe out of stubborn pride or a deep desire for independence?

I wonder if this is similar to what my "mother" thinks of me, even though, it isn't really that true..
I've done better than she has done in her whole life in two or three years, and I will continue to do better.

[AJ Douglas]

This was inspired by my daughter who is 23. I've asked myself the same question over and over...why does she choose to live that way? She was doing great up until the last half of her junior year of high school then got involved with the wrong people, got into drugs, and it was all downhill from there. But I don't understand why. She wasn't "spoiled" as a kid but she had all she needed and things she wanted. We supported her in whatever she wanted to do. She could have gone to college debt free since my husband works at the local university...she threw it all away. She makes up stories about being abused but she wasn't at all. We weren't perfect parents, no one is, but she had a great childhood, nothing traumatic or anything. Now she can't hold a job, steals from employers and me, it's just a mess and it's gotten to the point where we're considering cutting her totally off as nothing we've done has helped or is appreciated. It's a nightmare.

[light and ashes]

I'm really sorry to hear that, and I can't imagine what you are going through. Maybe the only thing that will help her is hitting rock bottom? Maybe then she will appreciate what she has? I don't know. I'm not an expert by any means.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

WOW this is a very powerful piece of poetry. It exudes an honesty that only liberated writers are compelled to reveal. Because in the end what defines our art is the truth we put into it. Excellent work. Thank you for sharing your poem with us.