Background: Before one of my residents was successfully discharged, she had shown me a bunch of her poems and even wrote a poem before she left. We both connected due to our love for writing. This poem or whatever you want to call it is a compilation of what I learned from my experience, so the 'she' is not me, but rather what I learned from those that went through these tragic experiences.


She wants to dance as the sun sets
Playfully build castles sand.
Have a parent tell her that she is loved
As she reaches for their hand.
Someday someone will understand that...

She wants to silence the noise
Calm the fears
Rid herself of the unwanted shame
Heal the scars
That she once thought was okay to let bleed
For so many years

She wants to find her voice.
To have others hear her melody.
To be told that her song is beautiful
Despite her tragic story
That has caused her so many tears

She says she wants to give up
But she secretly wants you to hope
Because she has not the strength left
To barely manage to cope

So you can help her carry her burden
When she feels like she's merely on her own
While you can't take away the horrific past
It is enough to her to know that
You believe in her.
You are here.

And she is indeed not alone.