You don’t know what it takes…

You don’t know what it takes

To be me,

To walk in my shoes

With painful feet

To stand so tall

With back straight

Hoping and praying

That I won’t fall

 

You don’t know what it takes

To be strong

To paint on a brave face

And wear a genuine smile

Just to face a world

That doesn’t want to see

What’s happening inside

 

You don’t know what it takes

To get back up

After tumbling so far down

When all my body wants

Is to lay there and be still

But my mind won’t give up

And nor does my will

 

You don’t know what it takes

To start over

At such a ‘ripe’ old age

To leave behind an entire life

To shoulder all the blame

To walk away and turn my back

Never to tread

The same path again

 

You don’t know what it takes

To be gripped with pain

From top to toe

Every. Single. Day

To forget what normal is

And be grateful if

Nothing else nasty

Comes my way

 

You don’t know what it is

To do without

The things you take for granted

To get up and walk

To stand so tall

To be so strong

To have fallen down

To become alone

To get back up

To be in pain

And still be thankful

 

You don’t know what it takes

To be me

Sharon Carter-Wray

 

(26^th March 2018)