Learned (My attempt at poetry)

I hate when I stood in front of my preschool teacher

And apologized for getting sick in her class

And I learned to be ashamed of what I couldn’t control.

I hate when the teachers pulled me out of class to do tests

And told me I wasn’t as smart as the other kids

And I learned to be ashamed of what I didn’t know.

I hate when the bully backed me into a fence

And I ran away as fast as I could because I couldn’t fight

And I learned to run from my problems.

I hate when my fourth grade teacher yelled

Saying the bullies were not her problem

And I learned to stay silent.

I hate when I had to have heart surgery

And it hurt so bad

And I learned to be afraid of pain.

I hate when the nightmares came

And the people in them would be angry and hurt me

And I learned to fear anger.

I hate when I told my brother

And he told my parents

And I learned not to trust.

I hate when my parents compare me

“It was harder for your brother”

And I learned to hide my feelings.

This is what I learned

And then I started to write

And I learned how to speak.

I’m learning

 That I don’t have to be ashamed

For what I can’t control

Or for what I don’t know.

I’m learning

That I don’t have to run 

from my problems

Or stay silent.

I’m learning

That I don’t have to be afraid

And that I can turn my pain and fear

Into beauty.

I’m learning

That it’s ok 

To trust people

And show them my feelings.

And I hope 

that you can all

learn with me.