Freedom From The Past

the family was chaotic from day one
they being an absentee, alcoholic father
and a probably-suffering-from-a-mental-illness mother
not understanding love
a child being cheated out of something
before her existence had ever really begun
so many unusual life lessons played out
where mediocrity would flourish
determined small steps tested the authorities
she tried where she could
her willingness to rise above engaged with her persistently
in the aftermath of their lives
she took control of all in her realm
determined to do what was best
the past is now safely in the rear-view mirror
today promised ever-increasing clarity going forward

Susi Bocks, writer/author/poet, has self-published two books – Feeling Human and Every Day I Pause. She is the Editor of The Short of It which recently produced its first anthology in 2021 – The Sound of Brilliance. Bocks’ has works published in the anthologies Through The Looking Glass – Reflecting on Madness and Chaos Within, As The World Burns, SMITTEN: This Is What Love Looks Like: Poetry by Women for Women and inVitaBrevis, Spillwords, Literary Yard, and other literary magazines. You can find her work at IWriteHer.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

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