Trauma Response Trainwreck Teens
(original poem by Anna)
published 06.23.21
----- TW: child grooming, eating disorder -----
A single piece of toast for dinner
Stolen bright red lipstick
On your face
A casualty of the digital age
Photos on your phone
Skin and bones
Snapshots all alone
Don't even know the damage
What a waste
Cartoon bandaids on your knees
For some validation, please
How much will you bleed
The answer is as much as it takes
Age is just a number
Clumps of mascara
In your eyes
Feeling so powerful
It's all a lie
Bad habits picked up
Before you even hit your teens
Trauma response trainwrecks
Acne riddled chests
You could pass for 18
In the dark I guess
Would you like to know
How much worse the world gets
Never trust again
Thought you'd
seen the worst of it
Would you like to hit twenty
And be a paranoid mess
They'll sexualize your pain honey just to watch you undress
Story as old as time
Stolen innocence
Nothing about it
Romantic or glamorous
"It's all your fault
You should have known better"
Story as old as time
Stronger than you should
Have be
People are afraid to see how
This world really is
And as long as they live like this
Kids will never get to just be kids
words from the author:
It's not a new phenomenon grooming but with the advent of the digital age it has become more and more common. The shame that surrounds survivors of childhood grooming and csa is caused by societal stigma. The only thing that can erase this shame to me is open conversation even if that makes other's uncomfortable. This poem is based on my own experiences. Although, it barely scratches the surface I hope it makes others feel less alone and helps those who've never been there understand a bit more.