Happy birthday they sang
To the girl
Red faced and shy
On the verge of crying
"sit up straight
everyone's looking at you"
All the lights burn out
"blow out the candles
but be sure not to spit on the cake"
I can't do it in one breath
Everyone laughs
My wish is that he'd get it over with
And take my life
A box is brought in
All dressed in black
Is it the puppy I wanted
For three years straight
Or does it contain the name
Of a boy
You suckered in for a date
"eight-teen years old
and as pure as a pearl"
And as miserable as ever
Dealing with the hell
I can't control
"why don't you look happy?"
I tell them
But they only listen
They never look
They never fully understand
Just brush it off
As a teenage mood swing
"open your gift
it reminded us of you, hunny"
I tear the flimsy dark paper
And open up the stained bow
The box seems even smaller somehow
So I know it's not what I wanted
The years before
"pull off the lid
and see what's inside"
A tiny black notebook
With words inscribed:

"A rose is nothing, without a keeper...a soul is not drowned, though it falls deeper...
a young girl depressed, strives to achieve...
but is forever inflicted, with tears..."

Tweet

Comments on this poem/writing:

Click here to read other Poems by Maranda Berkley

Copyright©2017-1999 by Rebecca R. Hammack

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All Rights Reserved.   No part of this website, including all pictures and written words,  may be reproduced or copied in any manner from this website without  permission of the original author of the work.  All poetry and pictures herein remain the sole property of the original author and/or copyright owner.  All poetry on this website has been submitted by the original author of the work. To contact any author of the work please e-mail: dreamer@dreamersreality.com  so the proper person may be notified.