Looking back on my life

I am aware of the struggle that was there

I’ve been down

I’ve been out

But I can honestly say that I have never been without

I see the scars from the where the surgeons cut deep

I can almost hear the hospital machines beeping when I sleep

Cancer tried to get the best of me

But I can honestly say that today, I’ve got the victory!

All the stories and the lies that they made up about me

Yes, of course it hurt me

Along with the times when they violated me sexually

And so mentally they battered me

They tried to shatter me

And the many years that it would take me

To overcome

But I can honestly say, that they didn’t break me

When they told me that I should downsize my vision

Of going to a four-year university

Sure did hurt me

When I got there it was all going well

Like a ship that was set to sail

But a few semesters in when I began to fail

I felt like what they had said to me

Would be the death of me

But honestly, I can say that I broke the chain of men without a high school diploma trust

me, I will get my degree, gradually!…

(c) 2009 Aaron J. Hampton

for the complete version of this poem, purchase the book, True Emotions of a Man: The Boy, The Man & His God, coming soon!