The Monster Under the Bed

The monster under the bed

and the boogie man in the closet.

Shadow puppets on the wall

tickling toes and pillow fights

crayon marks and popsicle stains.

All the things of normal kids.

Walks to the park and climbing trees

cartwheels and handstands

picking flowers in barefoot spring.

I grieve the loss of childhood.

What childhood? I had none,

not the normal one at least.

I grieve the loss of what should've been.

I grieve the loss of many things;

my voice, self-love and strength.

And in its place;

self-loathing, anger, sadness, hatred.

I hate what was done to me

but I cannot tell, I can never tell

the lies that were told to me.

I wish for the monster under the bed

and the boogie man in the closet.

At least then I'd be normal

like any other kid.