The Sum Of All Of Me
by Barbara Lynn Terry

I was born from the parts
   of a father and of a mother.
I was taught in the arts
   of reading, writing and other
things that would let me live
   a life so that I may teach
others joy so they may give
   freely and highly reach
for that eluded impossible dream
   that each of us it seems,
cannot make come true .

I am not the sum of those that made me
   because their narrow minds could not see
the scars they were creating in my soul
   so deep that I may never be whole.
I am the sum of she that has always been
   but may never be allowed to be seen
through all the abuse, sadness and strife
   that has been created through my life
by the woman who bore this girl in me
   and who refused to see my need
for happiness, acceptance and love.

So as I wake another day to be
   I see the reflection of she
that has caused my life
   to be filled with misery day and night
because she was so afraid I just might
   not have to live, struggle and fight
for the life I have a God given right
   to be, the sum of all of me.