The Wall

Anonymous

You escaped death with a hard-boiled egg and a name,

You were only eight and things would never be the same.

They killed all your blood with the snap of a finger,

Your walls grew tall and your skin grew thicker

You fled to the promised land with heartbreak and a comb,

You found yourself a husband and built yourself a home,

What once was your reality has seeped to your dreams,

And your nights filled with mind wars and screams.

You look at your baby, so innocent, so weak,

You rock her cradle and kiss her rosy cheeks.

She should never know any of your plight,

You vow to protect her from the night,

But as she pounds your wall and inflicts cracks,

It’s harder and harder to continue the acts.

The girl grows up and the nightmares go on,

She leaves home and births a little son.

You look at the boy with tears in your eyes,

You think it’s him again but remember he died.

They will never be able to understand your frights,

So you keep it contained and simply smile bright.

As he develops a curiosity and a tongue

He asks of the world to which you once belonged.

He grabs a hammer and inflicts more cracks,

As he implores you to remove your mask.

You look at all which you adore,

You notice their injuries from their battles with the wall.

He keeps on pounding and removes a brick,

He hands you his hammer and implores you to hit.

You take his hammer and break yourself free,

The defensive wall has turned to debris.

The hidden pain of the past 40 years:

The despair and the trauma, the grief and the tears

Are now out in the open,

You smile and exhale, your wall has finally fallen.

Scathed and wounded, they all look at you with pride,

You stare back, hyperventilating, eyes anxious and wide.

After hours of telling him at all that you hid,

He tells you to write and you immediately agree.

For hours and weeks, you write and ponder,

Of all your traumas and the days yonder.

The boy grew up and then there was me

Your great grand-daughter, all I will ever want to be.

You shine in my heart, guiding me with your light,

Every day I am awed by your life,

Just your loving smile as I enter your apartment,

Makes my heart content.

On your deathbed, you sang lullabies from long ago,

You reminisced your life and reflected on each photo

You look at the door and spot a young boy from your past.

You take his hand and reunite at last...