Mama Swore It'D Be Alright

I grew up shooting pool and dancing on the bar
 Mama said with enough buise anyone could be a star
 Daddy was in the back room chasin' skirts
 Mama was in the parking lot dancin' with Mary Jane just to mask the hurt

 I've spent my life walkin' around in a cloudy haze
 I'm taunted by the memory of my early days

 Daddy spent alot of time drivng an eighteen wheeler
 Each night Mama brought home a new "sexual healer"
 I didn't usually get a chance to catch his name
 But it almost always ended the same

 I heard her scream as glass would break
 My heart would stop with each breath I was scared to take
 Sirens and lights flooded our streets as I approached another long night
 As I dried her tears and cleaned her blood Mama swore it'd be alright
 She forgot to mention that it'd happen again
 
 Both my brothers had thier own bed in the federal pen
 Cancer took Granny's last breath right about then
 My sisters and I weren't strangers to rape
 As we grew older we each seeked our o0wn escape

 I guess I chose the hardest road
 Somehow I thought drugs and men could ease my burdened load
 While hiding from myself I lived a life of crime
 I earned a reputation and did my time

 I heard her scream as glass would break
 My heart would stop with each breath I was scared to take
 Sirens and lights flooded our streets as I approached another long night
 As I dried her tears and cleaned her blood Mama swore it'd be alright
 She forgot to mention that it'd happen again
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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A   Avatar
March 26, 2016 at 8:53 PM
Sara Beaderstadt, you've expressed yourself well, I like the way you ended the poem. Please keep writing and sharing your poetry when you have time. Happy Easter ** LOVE LINDA
Brown Avatar
January 24, 2011 at 4:18 AM
Congratulations on your win Sara in the contest "My Darkest Childhood Memory"sponsored by Walayee (Lay). Love, Carol
Skyles-Theoklapoet Avatar
January 23, 2011 at 2:29 PM
OMG my life flashed before my own eyes when I read this it was a heart wrenching read.Congrats on this fabulous read.One of my fav.s.~Teresa~
Beaderstadt Avatar
January 23, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Thank you all so much. And yes, this piece is a true bio with certain names and facts changed. All of my work is based on experiances of myself and loved ones. I hope you all continue to support my work. Sincerely, Sara
Calhoun Avatar
January 23, 2011 at 5:30 AM
Hi Sara - Wow! This was quite chilling. Congratulations on your BIG WIN in Walayee's contest. Best wishes, KC
Mehta Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 3:19 PM
Congratulations on the third place win in the contest, Sara
Kendrick Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 1:34 PM
Congratulations on your win..Sara
Sweetheart Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 1:27 PM
Congrats Sara on your super win in Lay's contest with this excellent entry luv... enjoy your top ten sweet success ...
Devonshire Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 12:29 PM
It must have been hard growing up this way, Sara. So sorry you had to go through this. Congratulations on your win! Love, Carolyn
Haick Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Congratulations on your great 3rd Place Win in Lay's contest! Always, Annalise
Whitlock-Ishway Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Congrats on your win Sara... Thank you for your entry... Lay
Neels Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Sara, this is a sad write indeed and I hope your life is better now.. Congratulations on your success ;)
Kendrick Avatar
January 6, 2011 at 5:11 PM
This is a topic that is so real in many people's lives..Children having to live these lives need societies' help and safety...I hope that this was not your life but just a topic...Sara
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