The Death of the Woman Within"

"I used to know a girl
Who was scared & insecure.
People called her awful names...
Liar, thief, & whore.
Liquor ran her veins
Everywhere she went
Shot after shot the void remained
But the shells kept being spent.

When the liquor lost its luster
As it always will
She found something much more sinister...
A jagged little pill.
They came in different colors
Shapes & sizes too.
And one by one they raped her
Of all the good she ever knew.

Held captive in their grip,
To herself she became a stranger
And now those she loved the most
Only saw her as a danger.
Those pills may be small,
But their power's awfully mighty.
Soon convincing her
That life was no longer worth fighting.

Alone in her room,
She said a quick prayer.
That it wouldn't be her children
That found her body up the stairs.

She sat in that room...
She prayed on her knees
That God would send someone worthy
Of doing her motherly deeds.
When down the hall she heard
Steps approaching so very loud.
It was her beautiful baby girl.
So innocent, so happy, so proud.

"Mommy! It's for you."
As she handed her the phone.
When all she wanted to do
Was send her away to be alone.

Dammit, she was too late.
But when she picked up the phone,
Her mouth gaped at the fate.

I left that girl on Mulberry
The day I stepped into these halls
Purging all of my demons
Leaving tear stains on the walls.

Now I am a woman
Shining from within
Made new by a higher power
Who loves me despite my sin.

As I look into the mirror
Finally proud of my reflection,
I'm loved by those around me
Without abandon or objection.

Today when I walk on Mulberry
And see puddles of vodka & vicodin,
I'll proudly leave that girl behind.
She died the day that I walked in. "

- Heather Smith © 2016 -
**ALL RIGHTS RESERVED**