KID
(Influenced by Simon Armitage poem KID)

When you gave the order to grow up, and then let me loose to wander,
Or ditched me, rather,
In the gutter … Well I turned a corner.
I've thrown that …'he was like a father to me' crap, 'he was like an older brother ...' He stood in my home and his back hand hit me more than once
You!
You are to blame, you and those blind eyes which love clouded – still does,
Blinding love!
I – not a kid, for so long,
You! You though just too blinded to see it.
Blinded by his love – It was your orders that killed…
Grow up! Huh am I grown enough now?
I've wondered so long and yet you don't see just how far I have travelled…
Well now I've come back – and no kid is I anymore!
Now I'm taller, harder, stronger - OLDER!
You are you…there?
Or still blinded by his love?
Can you see who your kid has become?

Fifteen, not much older I stood looking in this same mirror.
Which five years on - I now stand in and smile.
My face – scar running down the one side smiled, as the reflection is fifteen- five my junior. The same smile, the blackened eyes though –
The one he gave me looking back - He hit me then … and I… the kid.
Well didn't I surpass my mentor?

As I throw that cold water over my face I look back up –
No mistake now –
I'm the twenty year old unable to forget, no black eye just the scar
Because he marked me with the scar, the one he left those years ago
I can't – it won't let me forget.

I was the sister – your sister. What happened?
What changed?
How could love have done this?
Did you forget about me the KID who you those years earlier devoted your life to?
He must have been special huh?
To have done this to me! One special guy…
Where is he now? He's there…with you, and his mark on me, his mark still lasts.
I'm back…your sister…I back now and just look…look what your kids become…
Can you see?
I'm the twenty year old unable to forget…
Now I'm taller, harder, stronger … NOW I'M STRONGER!