Child

A poem about rebellion and growing up.

I have eyes, and I can see
You cannot blind the world from me
You cannot draw the curtain closed
To cut me off from what I chose
You cannot hold me, wrapped and safe
And starve my soul into a wraith
For at the moment of my birth
You have loosed me on the earth

Long ago I cut the ties
That bound me to your well-meant lies
In this world I choose my path
For I have learned to face its wrath
You swore that you would never leave
My side, but I am weapon sheathed
On mantelpiece, I lived so long
Waiting, craving to be drawn

And now the battle has been reached
And in its climax, bittersweet
Through these passing years, you’ve known
I could not always be your own
Through crucible we each must pass
And each life outlive the last
You cannot guide me anymore
Though trials life may hold in store

For I have eyes.