Daphne

"Taking a drive, I was ideal/ Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real/ Just something you paid for/ What was I made for?" - What Was I Made For, Billie Eilish

I yearn for the days,

When all I had to do was sit amongst the trees.

A time where I could simply be, 

Happily free.

But now that I’m a woman.

That will never happen again. 

I yearn for what could have been,

If I didn’t exist to fulfil the prophecy,

Again.

If the world was different then,

Maybe I could have been,

Everything I may have been.

To be so blissfully unaware, 

To the point where someone else must care. 

When I started picking a part every aspect of my face,

I knew it was over for me then.

Noticing how men stopped on the street, 

To ogle at me,

When I was no more than thirteen, 

It was over for me.

And now I’m numb, 

Less carefree and fun,

Because I’ve had to grow into my favourite tree,

Stuck here,

Frozen, 

While rings are added in perpetuity.

 

The only way I can be free,

Is to let my bark grow past my knees,

So I can outlive this, 

And be at liberty, 

Finally my favourite tree. 

Reviews

[Ken e Bujold]

Stumbled upon this gem of yours K after reading my friend Will's review. Now I owe him a thank you for leading me here, and a HUGE thank you for the poem. The metaphor of woman/tree is a grand trunk from which to carve a poetic masterpiece. While there is an undeniable sadness/almost bitterness to being sexualized, especially at such a young age, the poem also offers a hope to others. or as i read it, your lines can speak to other young ladies, and boys, to let them know others have traveled the road and are there to light the dark places to hopefully avoid.

Really enjoyed this work

ken

[willweb]

Love this poem, that last stanza is killer. I love all of the alliteration to trees and how that seems, based on your piece, to be your happy place. Where you feel free and have an audience who listens and never judges (the trees). Wonderfully written. You will find though that these times do return, it's just the middle that gets muddled. : )