Where I'm From

I'm from a single mother

and her occasional boyfriends

I'm from watching police take dad

and waiting for mom to pick me up 

I'm from uncertainty of dinner that night
and "christmas is gonna have to be put off this year"

I'm from sexual assault 

and keeping said things to myself

I'm from home not being home

and taking pills as I wake up to hide 

I'm from the blue house on Forsythia Street

and eight moves after that

I'm from packing up and leaving before he comes home

and then coming back because mom didn't know

I'm from finally finding the strength to tell 

and being too young to be heard

I'm from "it wasn't your fault"

and him getting to be free

I'm from a hard past

and a bright future