1:40 – 2:11 pm 8-22-07

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My name is Roxanne.

Plain and Simple,

Bold and Complex.

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I am a different person,

From whom you tend to see.

You’ll only see the person

That I pretend to be.

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I am a rose by any other name,

But, you may never figure out my game.

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Hurt, lies, and loneliness

Are all a part of my past.

Seeing my empty eyes

Just make the memories last.

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I’m still so scared to reach out,

Scared to trust again.

So I hide behind my mask.

And I find it easy to pretend.

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Someone came along

And snatched away my mask.

Shamed and naked,

Left in myself to bask.

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I picked up the broken pieces.

I tried to glue them back.

One foot in front of the other.

Trying to get on the right track.

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I got discouraged again,

And found my razor to be my only friend.

With a smile, I endured the pain.

It made me feel like I had something to gain.

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I pushed everyone away

And was alone from day to day.

I would sit and cry,

And why I wasn’t dead yet, I would often wonder why.

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I stopped trying to hide.

I became who I am.

I tried opening up,

But my time I did bide.

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Coming out of my shell was an amazing feat.

But I was still prepared to be hurt,

And into my cave would I retreat.

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I discovered others like me.

The hurt was there.

They were broken, too.

It was easy to see.

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But they didn’t try to hide

Or push me to the side.

They showed me the light more

My hope they did restore.

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They were patient,

Healing my scars.

I found where I belonged,

Not down in the dirt but up with the stars.

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My past is still there,

But it is behind me

I no longer dwell on it.

I no longer care.

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My future is exactly where I am now,

Although, I know not why or how.

I have a purpose for life.

To end this hurt and strife.

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So now I will help someone else along.

To take away their masks

And make them feel like they belong.

Help them to forget.

Help them be strong.