As children, our self-worth is determined by our most trusted and significant relationships; the message received is the lesson learned.
THat feelING,
you know the one?
pulling,
dragging,
suffocating,
silencing.
passing the town hall,
pinching for broken crumbs
in the bottom
of a crisp packet,
there it was,
THat feelING.
thinking of the boy
in the tv ad.
blonde hair.
blue eyes.
white teeth.
happy.
sliding his thumb
over the surface
of the silver foil wrapping,
leaving an imprint
of the name
we all know.
he smiles.
i want to be him.
blonde hair.
blue eyes.
white teeth.
happy.
but not for boys like me.
there it was,
THat feelING.
pulling,
dragging,
suffocating,
silencing.
passing phil kennedy’s pub,
on my way
home?
from school,
i was
six years old
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