War Child

What life felt like, growing up, for me.

No one told me

I was being drafted

To fight a war

I didn't understand

As a child soldier.

Whose

Main objective was

Survival

At all cost.

With the least amount

Of harm

To my body and soul.

While

Presenting to the world

A normal child

Who is succeeding

In school.

Hiding the deep scars

Which pockmarked

My soul

and developing psyche.

Stretching my senses

Looking for hidden enemies

Waiting

In ambush.

Fighting

Against the need

To self-harm.

Whether

By suicide

Or other means.

Having left

The battleground

My war continues

In my mind

And soul

Decades later.

As the dreams

Fill my nightly sleep

With traumatic images

Of the past

Relived.

Author's Note

Originally, written October 12, 2013. As a result of my abusive childhood, I suffer from chronic severe depression, GAD, agoraphobia, PTSD and anxiety.

Reviews

[Tina Louise UK]

So many children of war, you did a great job expressing the horrors of abuse. If I could take it all away for you I would. So sorry you had to go through that hun xx

[therisa]

Thank you, Tia, for your very generous offer.

[TL Boehm]

It is so sad that some are drafted into this war and it becomes the very skin we wear. You've written with honesty and grit in this.

[therisa]

Wish, I could have avoided this, Tammy, with every fibre, in my being. no one should have to endure abuse, in any form.