Barely a Life

My childhood was stark

Barely a life

Left its mark

Like a knife

Began my sentence

When I was self-aware

I suffered in silence

With utter despair

Picked on for being

A social outcast

I remember feeling

Completely downcast

My best clothes

Were rags to others

Hand-me downs

From the neighbours

Amongst my peers

I was quiet and lost

Hid my tears

But at a cost

I wanted to curse

Yelling ‘I’m here too’

Making things worse

Me looking a fool

And looking around

I fervently knew

That one day

I’d be rid of you

And from the shackles

I did break free

And all those Jackals

Were no longer with me

And a confident life

I went on to live

I have a wonderful wife

Two brilliant kids

Travelled the world

The sights I did see

As I uncurled

It set myself free