Courage Poem

I was young,

I sat back,

I watched as my mother staggered around,

Tossing beer bottles as if they were toys,

Tears raced down my face,

Courage is watching my mom get drunk knowing there's nothing I could do.
 

I walked to school every morning,

I pretended that nothing was wrong,

Everyday,

I would get teased,

But today,

I chose my words,

I spoke them to protect me,

Courage is standing up for myself against the girl who teased me.
 

I entered my house once again at the end of the day,

I saw my siblings,

I cooked for them,

I took care of them,

Courage is being the mother figure for my siblings.
 

One day,

I met this boy,

I fell head over heels for him,

I had my doubts,

In the end I didn’t let that stop me,

Courage is letting myself fall in love knowing I could get hurt.
 

We took the plunge,

We were happy,

Our love was real,

Courage is letting myself finally be happy.

 

A few years later,

He fell ill,

I sat back as the darkness overtook him,

There was nothing I could do,

I loved him,

Courage is watching as my husband dies.
 

I told my kids the news,

Of course they didn’t fully understand,

I took care of them,

The best I could,

With no father,

Courage is raising kids without their father.
 

I wanted a way out of all this stress,

I wanted to break so many times,

But I didn’t,

I held it together,

I will never be like my mother,

Courage is not falling into my mother’s alcohol ways.
 

I bought my kids everything they needed,

I taught them all of life’s lessons,

I provided the best I could,

I pushed myself everyday,

Not for me,

For them

Courage is trying to make a better life for my kids.
 

So when my eldest daughter,

Finally met the man of her dreams,

I was happy,

I helped plan the wedding,

I stood and waited,

Courage is watching my daughter walk down the aisle.
 

I see my own mother with tears streaming down her face,

Across the reception floor,

I took a deep breathe,

I walked over,

I embraced her,

Courage is forgiving my mother.
 

Without courage I would be nothing.

Courage is surrounding all of us. We can either choose to grab a hold of it and never let go or turn our backs away from it.

I chose courage. I am courage.