They Didn'T Know(Child Abuse) Poem by Tracy Rollings

I got dressed and went to school one day
and there was no smile on my face
but the teacher knew something was wrong, cause i didn't want to play
because my happiness was gone and pain took it's place.

Although my clothes were torn, dirty and smelled bad
and the other kids laughed and called me bad names
i wished they all knew that, these clothes were all i had
sometimes they must have felt that this was just a game.

The teacher knew something was wrong, because i didn't take my seat
and as the kids laughed on, i knew i didn't have a friend
so she took me in the hall and asked me if i been beat
i told her if i said anything that this would be the end.

As we talked on, i looked up at her face
she asked me what happen, and i begin to speak
i was really trying to talk at a steady pace
but i had to slow down because i was getting weak.

I tried to tell her and make her understand what i go through
but she had to get back in class, because the kids were getting loud
she came back out, and we begin to talk and i asked her what can i do
but through the surprise and tears in my eyes, i still stood there proud.

My teacher told me that she was very hurt, as she sit there and started to cry
the kids all got quiet, there was stillness in the class
they heard me telling her i sometimes wish i could die
and the kids held there hands out and said we're sorry as i left the class.