Youth Voice Writing Contest 2022 — First Place, Poetry
Safety, for me, would be the nurturing moment to have with a parent
Because that parent is supposed to raise me and guide me down the right path
It’s like math
One plus one equals two
Two plus one equals three
That’s how they had me
You would think that’s a happy family
But that’s not my reality
The big picture is the single mother that raised me
put me through so much abuse and trauma
Then, to be taken from that mama
To endure more trauma
Removed from an unsafe and unhappy home
but no one realized that home is all I know
Put into a place surrounded by kids of different ages
different races
going through different stages
To be told it’s a safe space
But, was it really a safe space?
But, was it really safe?
Seeing a girl younger than me get her arm dislocated by a man that was supposed to be keeping us safe
Running away from that place to find somewhere safe
but ending up homeless ‘cause there is no such place
Showing up to court, thinking my mom would plead her case
So I can return to her ‘grace’
because the trauma I endured wired my mind to think her home was safe
But there is no such place
Everywhere I turned, it was unsafe, unstable
The system and the social workers not listening to my pleas
as I pleaded somewhere safe is where I need to be
Safety, to me, was the dance teacher who helped me express through movement
Safety, for me, was the ability to write out my emotions
Thank you Mr. Lindquist for the doors you have opened
Safety, for me, was the truth I have spoken
the doors I will open
Safety, for me, was school and the knowledge it provided
The teachers who believed and didn’t choose to be silent
Safety, for me, was the family I created
The little girl I am raising
I am surviving the risks I have taken
Safety, for me now, is what I choose for it to be
The safety for me
