Dear World,

I just thought you should know what I’m doing now.

I am a strong person

A disciplined person

A fun person

Who spends a lot of time hanging out, watching TV, and going places – going shopping, going new places.

 

I just thought you should know how I’m feeling.

I am nervous

I am unhappy

I am confused

Confused about everything, about this place, about these buildings

Because … life.

 

I just thought you should know what I’ve been through.

In the last month, I have changed so much.

Change that is black.

Black that is depressing.

Change that hurts like fire.

What happened is this:

The first thing was moving to a new place.

The second thing was experiencing change.

And the third, the third thing was understanding.

Moving, changing, understanding.

 

I just thought you should know what I wish for the future.

I hope for a better future.

The future looks like this:

Better education – a better school

A house – I really want a house

Those two things will make me a better person.

 

I just thought you should know

That I have grown from who I used to be.

Grown like a cheetah.

Growing fast

Changing fast

Understanding fast.

And this is what I thought you should know.

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This poem is published in The World in Me, a compilation of original poetry written by young people ages 8 – 17 who stayed with their families in housing at Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing for women and children. The young authors who contributed to The World in Me are not identified by their real names, and some details have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of them and their families. The authors retain copyrights on their individual works.