A Mother Raising Anorexia Poem by amapola poppy

Masking your problems through relentless dieting,
you exercise and you starve.
Face drawn and eyes glazed,
you're not yourself anymore.
You were so sociable and outgoing,
now you insist on isolating yourself.
You promise that you're ok, that you'll 'live' another day.
I don't believe you, but there's nothing more I can say.
Wasn't I there for you when you were growing up?
Did I fail to see the signs?
As a child I could hold you, guide you.
Now, I don't understand you.
You let it latch onto you, it's changed you.
You refuse to let me in.
Your only goal in life is avoiding calories.
If you're skinnier and thinner,
in your mind you'll be a winner.
You can barely stand and to you that's a victory?
It baffles me.
My youngest daughter, haunted by thoughts,
haunted by a distorted perception of perfection.
I miss you.
You've become lost in your own cruel mind,
Abused by someone that was once considered a 'friend',
It pushes you to starve yourself each day.
No matter how much I beg and I plead
You say it's too hard to send your 'friend' away.
So, I stand alone,
Powerless to the Voice that controls your mind.
Your life was heartlessly taken from us
When your soul and the Voice were entwined.