Learning to Count (1,2,3)

I hope nobody is like this, but I think we could all relate in some ways.

I learned to count in an odd way,

but I practiced constantly through the day.

It wasn't long before I became

a master of counting everyday. 

One was for the one father who left us alone,

Two was for the two siblings who shared my home,

Three was for the three cats that always roamed,

Four was for the four bars my mom left us for.

Five was for the families who turned us away,

Six was for the six days of the week that we prayed,

Seven was the seventh day when we went to church,

Eight were the eight prayers that didn't relieve hurt.

Nine was the nine bottles that sat on the wall,

Ten was all the times that I had to buy more.

Eleven (11) was the two ones, my siblings, who died,

Twelve is all the years that I constantly cried.

Thirteen are the men who left me astray,

Fourteen is the times that I have been played,

Fifteen are the hours of the day that I wait,

Sixteen is the year I thought I'd get my break. 

Seventeen is the year that I grew up a lot,

Eighteen are the months that i spent behind bars.

Nineteen is the months I have left to my life,

Twenty are the reasons I won't live to be a wife.

Life is unfair, cruel, and abusive,

but I've lived and found my own use for it.

So whatever happens in the months throughout

I'll always remember how I learned to count.

Reviews

[Malen]

This carries a power underlying.
Something so simple as counting, but counting meaning a lot.
Attaching time and influence, revealing what is real behind each count.
Exposing and raw.
You write with intent.

[dan]

david (a female?), this is so powerful and sad all at once, and the format you used to illustrate the "counting" was very well conceived; it clearly illustrates the tough time you had growing up. We all can't have "Ozzie and Harriet" upbringing (I know I didn't), but it's people like you who show the resilience and resolve to overcome such obstacles and hopefully learn the ways NOT to bring children up properly. I am saving this to my library, and yours is only the third one that I've saved (ironically the 2nd one was about 20 minutes ago), so I don't take that act lightly. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you! take care...dan

[Not here]

thanks for the compliments dan. by the way, im a guy, this is just from a girl's pespective. it was easier to write it that way

[dan]

Got it. After I posted my comment I looked your page up and saw your pic. Definitely a guy. Sorry about that. take care...dan

[Not here]

lol no problem

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

That was very tragic and unfair to any children that have to live this way, be abandoned by their biological parents (even emotional abandonment is horrible), and have to grow up so fast. Unlucky and poor are those who have to pay for someone else's misdoings.

[Elisa]

This poem really shows how screwed up this world is, but all the strength that we can gain if we make it through the storm. Excellent poem!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Great way to learn counting, however the feelings by which you have learned it, aren't so great. Good writing. :) Rudi

[Jeyanthi]

This is an extremity, very unimaginable in my thinking.

I usually count how many days i wasted instead of studying, that too only the day before exam.

[Prashant Rajput]

a rare piece of writing!!!!...it tells us that we can learn from anything in any situation,the main thing is the will to learn.Thanks for sharing.

[Mary Bradley]

Very good poem ... nice flow throughout . Thank you for sharing

[Deepika]

This is an intense and creativity filled piece, seeking lessons out of harsh realities of life. Good job (y)

[....................]

Unfortunately there are many out there who may find a place in this piece, somewhere along the way. Thanks for sharing!