Valerie

Everyone told Valerie
to be strong
but no one ever mustered
“You are strong.”

Every friend
had a tale of a friend,
the strength of which
was beyond compare.
but no friend ever saw that friend as she.

“Crying is a sign of weakness,”
“ugly cry is unacceptable”
and “breakdowns should be behind doors”
preached many.

So Valerie learned to hide her tears well
and made her sobs, silent.
Silent!
So Silent, but not too
silent to not exist.

There were many bruises
the bandages couldn’t heal.
strength makes progress
but who’s there to see?

There,
just to make assumption
and not see past it.
but her mind could not make peace
with the fact that people labelled her with.

Through the torture that led to traumas
and the assaults that led to PTSD
all the deranged and beautiful
childhood memories that led to she

After every time she failed herself
and every time she failed thee,
Valerie took a step forward
and kept walking.

But if strength makes no noise
does it even exist?
but if strength makes no noise
does it even exist?

Probably not for anyone,
she’s surrounded with.
When someone labelled Valerie weak,
her mind could not help but disagree
but the soul silently weeps

And finds another incident
to move forward with
being if not strong,
not weak.