aliss163

You don’t know me
Stop sayin that you know me
You don’t know what I have been through
You don’t know how tough life’s been
You don’t know that I’ve ruined my own life
Just to fit in with your crowd
You don’t know that I can’t say no
You don’t know that I lived in 13 different states
And that was before I turned eight
You don’t know who I am
Stop saying that you know me
You don’t know how I had to survive
Ho I had to take care of myself and my brother
That was when I was only 4
You don’t know who I am
Stop saying that you know me
You don’t know how drug-free I wanted to be
You don’t know how your crowd ruined me
You don’t know how innocent I once was
You don’t know how ya’ll changed all that
You don’t know who I am
Stop saying that you know me
You don’t know how I devastated my parents
You don’t know how I ruined their life
You don’t know how I went to jail
Just because I was overwhelmed with one of you
You don’t know how long I been in AESH
You don’t know that I am better now
You don’t know that I still hurt
You don’t know who I am
Stop saying that you know me

Jeez

TheBlackPoet

goddamn, i feel your confused, unanswered ball of pain....... i can appreciate when someone wants to know my past to understand me, but i hate when they say... "I know what you mean." they dont know shit!!
empathy is one thing... knowing me..., is another...

i read poems a lot.. and in each one, i look for me in them..., i saw me all up in this poem... what i wanted to say, but didnt/couldnt...

you spoke it well...

nomadicrhymer

Alissa, you hit the nail on the head...I think many people don't want to look past the facade that we show them, but STILL want to be "familiar" with us or empathize maybe? (maybe!) ...so they try to meet us on a level that is shallow and actually uncaring, thinking that it will bring us closer to them...your poem pushes back...I can hear it screaming, telling everyone to look deeper, really look and SEE what's inside...and just accept it...because if you haven't lived it...you almost always can't understand it. Violent emotional pain and a real need for understanding pop through this piece of poetry... hopefully the pain is getting to be your past...pretty tight piece!!

Nomad

bloodletting_of_the_sky

everybody has their own way with dealing with life....
so when one person says that they've been through the same stuff... they can only say that to a certain extent... they might have been through the "circumstances".... but they havent been through your head.. they dont know where you hide your hopelessness....
but people like me only wish you would reach out... and share... because that's the only true way to rid yourself of the bitterness and unforgiveness... if you step outside yourself you'll see a whole world out there.... not so different from yours.