“Girl I See You” by Tanjamara Penner

Tanja was selected as the winner of Sightline’s poetry contest. Below is her poem, “Girl I See You.”

 

Girl I See You

 

Girl I see you broken

What have they done to you?

Have they destroyed you too?

Like they destroyed me, long ago?

 

Girl I see you

I see how you have given up

And how you have built those walls

Around you, to protect your heart

 

Girl I see how your soul is dying

That the only thing that keeps you alive

Are the tears you’re hiding

Trying not to let anyone know

 

I see how your eyes are looking

But don’t see anymore

How your ears are listening

But stopped hearing long ago

 

Girl, how those lips that were used to kiss

Now refuse to smile

How those ocean eyes once full of passion

Are now red from crying

 

But girl I promise you it will pass

I promise you will love again

Those walls will break, again, a smile you’ll wear

And when that happens, I promise I’ll be there

 

–Tanjamara Penner