FREE VERSE POEM: growing up, by Dylan Wey

growing up was tough for him,
learning all his responsibilities,
before he had the chance to talk,
his father yelled at him for not working,
he was 9,
his mother had left,
she died when he was younger,
leaving her messy memories with her
pain filled son,
his father yelled at him for not working,
he was 12,
and just starting middle school,
it felt like his father was inside of every kid,
and he had no place that felt like home,
he finally found a place,
to make his father proud,
his father yelled at him for not working enough,
he was 14,
he’s in high school now,
blade in his pocket
carrying his demise of promises
etched into his arms
he drinks his problems away now,
he thinks his dreams are
at the bottom of the bottle,
his father yelled at him for getting fired,
he was 17,
excited to leave,
he didn’t wish to stay much longer,
if it was up to him,
he would’ve left the second he learned
to take a step,
his father yelled at him for not working,
he turned 18,
excited to step,
his father begged him to stay,
yet there was nothing else to say,
he still left,
with his father having no one
to yell at but himself.

Author: poetryfest

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