POETRY
The Girl Who Was Swallowed Wholly
When the world teaches a girl to make herself smaller, until there is nothing left of her to swallow
Know your place, and that is right behind them.
Words that crushed the little soul that no longer exists,
The soul that vanished from the very heart of her life.
Crash… the sound of her broken heart could be heard miles away,
Yet the sound was drowned out by the lively chatter,
The lively chatter of those she had to stand behind.
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And so, she wore a brave face,
A mask she wore for so long
She had forgotten it was a façade.
Know your place, they said,
And she picked the furthest place in the room,
So far away it seemed she was never in the same room.
Know your place, they said,
She walked the walls, playing her cards close to her chest,
Whilst they pranced with their hearts on their sleeves.
Know your place, they said,
She took those words their eyes spelt ever so seductively,
And built walls so high they stood obstructively.
Know your place, they said,
The more the line gnawed
And pierced the inner sanctuary of her being,
The further she was from crawling back.
Know your place, they said,
She took those words to be holy — so holy,
It’s said they swallowed her wholly.
