clarese

inspired by a friend.

She sits there with a smile stretched across her lips

To you, it looks sincere, like the rosy blush

Of a china doll’s cheeks and not at all like

The mask that it is, meant to hide,

Much like the long sleeve t-shirts she wears,

Even in summer. You’re too preoccupied

With that pretty face, those chocolate eyes.

Those ears pierced through seven times

That listen to your concerns as you babble on

About petty things that aren’t nearly

As colossal as the crimes in her life.

She’s got to be selfless to listen to such whining.

Who brought you chocolate when you found out

Your boyfriend was cheating on you?

Clarese.

Who was her shoulder to cry on when her boyfriend

Broke up with her?

No one.

Who listened to your complaints about

Working a double shift on Saturday?

Clarese.

Who was there to help her ease the stress of working

Every day, just so she wouldn’t have to go home

After school and talk to her parents?

No one.

We are so selfish, we didn’t even see

What was there all along.

Hey there, Mom, did you know?

Verbal abuse is nearly twice as bad as the physical kind.

You see, emotional scars never heal.

And dear old dad, you never stepped in to prevent this.

You proved to your daughter just how little to you

She thought she was worth�"nothing at all.

Did you ever pull up her sleeves

To see skin puckered in an ugly kiss

Circling around her wrists?

Did you ever hear her crying in her room at night,

Whispering secrets to her cat because

It was the only one who would listen?

You may have been terrible parents,

But we have been monsters of friends.

Now you tell me which one is worse:

The blood soaking through the sleeves of her white shirt,

Or a friend too thoughtless to put her first?

Author's Note

this is completely unedited! any revision help & suggestions would be highly appreciated. please & thank you!