Using words as weapons, youth living in our Broadview residence for parents and children – all of whom are domestic violence survivors – are learning to fight trauma through poetry.

Broadview Children’s Advocate Kayla B. started a writing group last winter to give kids a creative outlet to struggle through their experiences. She explains that “it’s not all gushy and happy. It’s hard writing about trauma; it brings up really hard emotions.” And even the kids who seem the strongest have moments of vulnerability. Despite this, writing poetry serves as a great way to heal from trauma, and it provides a safe space for the children to process and express their emotions.

Kayla partners with Pongo Poetry, a nonprofit arts organization that trains mentors to facilitate trauma-informed poetry with distressed populations, such as youth in Juvenile Detention and psychiatric care.

Over the past few months, the children – ages 8 through 17 – have produced powerful works of poetry and are in the process of producing a chapbook collection of their works. One young author gave permission to share the following poem:

“You see that I have a big family
You think my siblings are disgusting
And that we’re weird cuz my mom and dad are separated
You see that I am quiet a lot when you point and stare,
My silence is begging you to stop staring
But you don’t know me.
You would know me if…
You knew how hard it was to be pointed out like homeless people
Or if you knew how I feel hurt sometimes, like a caged elephant or giraffe
Or if you knew how my sister and I help each other do our hair
It takes 4 hours and hurts so bad
Or how my sister and I gather our 4 siblings when they misbehave at the store
You see that I am not what you think
You see that I don’t point at you the way you point at me
But you don’t know me.
You would know me if…
You knew how I color butterflies like I’m a famous artist*
You knew how I cook noodles with lemon flavor for my whole family and
I’m only 8 years old.”

*The featured image above is an example of the author’s famous artwork.

Kayla explains that “despite all of the trauma, the instability, and everything else they witness … they still giggle at the office every day and have smiles on their faces.” As an advocate, survivor and poet herself, she is constantly inspired by the children she works with. Reflecting upon her experiences at Broadview, she shares with us a piece of her own work:

“Cookies and water” was written with chalk on the side of the shelter today
The kids set up a lemonade stand-esque business model
Bought corner store cookies with couch cushion coins
Flipped off brand Oreos at 300%
Chilled the water jug in the freezer like the young entrepreneurs they are
Mom’s EBT card got lost in the mail again
This is dinner
This is taking malleable minds off emptiness
Off Hot Cheetos for breakfast
Off no one coming home
Off no home to come home to
“Cookies and water”
“We made $22.47 today!!”
Such pride in their pockets
This filling holes
This ends unmet
For what it’s worth
They’ve learned no one hears you
with that many
Holes in your pockets

Kayla also hosts open mic nights at Broadview, allowing the authors to stand on a podium and read their poetry to an audience. This not only builds confidence, but also provides an opportunity for the children to stand with one another in solidarity. Children who overcome domestic violence far too often feel isolated in their experiences. But through this writing group at Broadview, they are able to build a supportive community with others who have faced similar trauma.