Poets logo

The Broken Sister

Releasing light into the darkness.

By Stephanie DownardPublished 12 months ago 1 min read
8
Photo by Stephanie Downard

To my family that broke me,

I need you to know,

This pain haunts me daily.

I know you don't care,

I get that now.

I grasp illusions,

In my mind.

Wishing things would go back,

Back to normal,

But normal is gone.

You're filled with hate,

Hate that spreads.

It’s like an infection,

That feeds on joy.

Not just my joy,

But my kids.

They don’t understand.

You were all once heroes.

Even I looked up to you.

Now you're villains.

Destroyers of happiness.

The darkness has consumed you.

You’re blinded with rage,

Unable to see the truth.

Stuck in tunnel vision,

With no way out.

You’ve placed the blame on the wrong ones.

You’re cruel words and actions still eating me alive.

They fester inside me,

Keeping me from forgetting.

The agony of each memory is like a pinprick.

Slowly piercing my heart,

And each time a little more love leaks out.

I feel it dragging me down,

And I can’t escape.

The chain has a hold on me,

And it’s getting shorter and shorter.

How does one let go of family?

I don’t want to be like you,

A hate-filled monster stealing joy from others.

I know I need to fight,

Fight the demons you gave me.

It’s a none stop battle,

But I refuse to give in.

I will prevail.

I will break the chain.

My light will devour your darkness and rage,

And I know one day,

I will be ok.

Sincerely,

The Broken Sister

heartbreak
8

About the Creator

Stephanie Downard

I'm a mom of 3 plus a bonus son. I've discovered I love writing, and in my free time, that's what I do! I may not be the best, but that will not stop me! It can only go up from here! I hope you enjoy the words that trickle out of my head.

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  2. Eye opening

    Niche topic & fresh perspectives

  3. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  1. Expert insights and opinions

    Arguments were carefully researched and presented

  2. Masterful proofreading

    Zero grammar & spelling mistakes

  3. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  4. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

  5. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

Add your insights

Comments (7)

Sign in to comment
  • L.C. Schäfer11 months ago

    The pin pricks in your heart got me. Beautifully written 👏

  • It's always a nice surprise when you come across something so powerful and beautifully written. Look forward to reading more. Hearted and subscribed

  • MD Mohaiminul Islam12 months ago

    A powerful message

  • Cendrine Marrouat12 months ago

    Yeah, family isn't always the best. A powerful message! Poetry is all about making the reader feel emotions. That's what you did. ;-)

  • I'm so sorry this happened to you 🥺 Tunnel vision is a very dangers thing. And some words can never be forgotten. Sending you lots of love and hugs 🥺❤️

  • Gina C.12 months ago

    This did exactly what poetry is supposed to do - make the reader feel. This was very emotional. I love how it took me down a dark path and ended with a glimmer of hope. ❤️

  • Kelley Stead12 months ago

    Haunting. I know you said poetry isn’t your strong suit, but I think you did a great job with free form. As someone who was raised in a cult, I feel for the narrator. Childhood trauma is a never ending hole. Nice job.

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.