Caged | Teen Ink

Caged MAG

June 6, 2009
By ShernayB. DIAMOND, Southfield, Michigan
ShernayB. DIAMOND, Southfield, Michigan
62 articles 1 photo 881 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Some things will never change"---Tupac


I've been falling a lot lately
And no, I don't mean literally
Mama told me she noticed changes in me
How I cut my hair
How it seems like nothing interests me
I force out the best smile I can
To convince her that I'm okay
Even though my world is sundering
“I'm just not into that stuff anymore, Mama”
She looks at me pleading for the truth
I want to tell her, but I restrain.
“Really, Mom.” And smiles again.

I've been getting into trouble lately
This time I mean literally
Mama told me I'm not the same anymore
Not sweet and innocent
Not pure and saintly
I flash my best confused face
As if I don't know what she means
Even though the truth could be seen through her eyes
“I thought I was being myself, Mom”
She looks at me with disappointment in her eyes
Crossing her arms waiting for an answer.
I want to tell her everything, but I restrain.
“I don't know, Mom” And turn away.

I've been wasted a lot lately
And I do mean that literally
Mama caught me in her arms last night
When I fell backwards on the stairs
She put her nose to my mouth
She smelled the alcohol
And instantly sat me up to look her directly in the eyes
I could see the tears welling up in her eyes
And before I could restrain, everything came pouring out
She looked at me with fear and concern
Telling me everything was going to be okay
She cradled me in her arms on the floor
And she watched me cry like I never did before



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This article has 45 comments.


on Jan. 7 2010 at 12:26 pm
awesomeaugust GOLD, Boston, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 176 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground"
~Theordore Roosevelt

Wow! I'm so flatterted that you liked my poem, coming from such a wonderful poet. This is really beautiful and I loved how you foreshadowed in the fist stanza. Brilliant.

on Jan. 3 2010 at 12:19 am
Prathap PLATINUM, Bangalore, Other
23 articles 0 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
All's fair in love and war. Everyone loves everyone else, and the whole world is at war. So anything that you do is fair... break a girl's heart and tell me that, I'll believe you.

The construction of this one is simply superb! The way you built it up, of how you were hiding yourself from your mother, in a way scared, and finally your mother accepting you... brilliant!

In a way this piece is a mirror of the stark differences of the two halves of the world... if a person is caught drinking... no matter the age... retribution is very very severe. In a way, this shows how two people can look at the same thing with quite a different perspective. And you have captured the essence of the common fear that everyone, especially us teens feel.

Keep writing! Awesome work! :)

on Nov. 23 2009 at 2:38 pm
calephchad BRONZE, Guin, Alabama
4 articles 0 photos 84 comments
This poem makes me wanna' cry. The details in this poem are so good. I love how you kinda' hinted the conclusion and brought all the pieces together from the previous stanzas. This is truely amazing. You're a great poet. I love your work so much. Keep writing!

on Aug. 18 2009 at 1:31 am
NascentNovelist GOLD, Syracuse, Utah
15 articles 3 photos 15 comments
The ending to this one seemed to pull the whole thing together. It was a powerful combination of words and events. Thank you for sharing.

on Jul. 25 2009 at 4:31 pm
JohnDeereGirl DIAMOND, Westerlo, New York
61 articles 36 photos 216 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I'm not"
"Somewhere betweeen us talking, you saying I deserve better, and you making me laugh when I wanted to cry, I fell in love with you."

Wow. That was really good.