I Can

By : Dulce Santiago “ I can ” Where were you when I needed you Where were you when they were ripping my skin and soul When I was trying to scape, my horrible childhood When my only friend was the silence When I was trying to, cope in with the world Why couldn’t you drag me, and tell me “everything will be okay” Why couldn’t you give me the spark of joy to my heart that I much needed I was like a lost child at Walmart , searching for her mom Why couldn't you just give me what I wanted Why couldn’t I have a “ good job” or “ a pat in the back” Why couldn’t you just tell me I could have everything if I worked hard for it Instead of handing me out “ You cants “ and drowning me with negativity and no hope Well guess what “I can dad” I can triumph without a man on my side and away from the Hispanic stereotype I can not have a child in my womb but what I can’t have is your negativity I can do things, my mom didn’t have the chance to do I can finally speak for myself I can , have a job and do what I love to do I can go to college but lastly I can make you proud like i’ve been trying to for the past 14 years.