I used to be afraid of you, <br />But not anymore, <br />Not for a long time now. <br />When you walked tall <br />And carried a big stick <br />You often used it to protect <br />Your children. <br />Now you carry a cane <br />And you swing words <br />Like a big stick <br />And you use it to hurt <br />Your children. <br />I've realized <br />Through my personal growth <br />And <br />Search for my identity, <br />That I was so very afraid of you <br />As a child. <br />That it was better to join you <br />Than to be against you. <br />By becoming your shadow, <br />I became the Dragonslayer. <br />But in that endeavor <br />I lost my most cherished possession... <br />Myself, <br />The essence of my beginning. <br />It's funny how <br />Now, <br />I still manage to keep my head <br />When what I really want to do <br />Is tear off yours. <br />It's funny how <br />Now, <br />After all these battles <br />That I can still love you so much. <br />Even after you pulled all of <br />Your weapons to hurt me. <br />You're lucky... <br />You managed to raise me <br />With qualities, <br />Tools I carry, <br />And articulate through my life <br />And use them not to slain you, <br />Or chain you, <br />But to understand you, <br />And forgive you. <br />Just as all my experiences, <br />All my sufferings, <br />All my joys, <br />Have taught me, <br />Molded me. <br />I can get beyond the flames <br />Of your mouth. <br />I may feel the heat, <br />But I do not, <br />And will not, <br />Get burned. <br />Isn't it funny how now <br />I can be a dragon. <br />I can spit the flames, <br />Snap my jaws, <br />After all... <br />I am my mother's child. <br /> <br />But just as a flame can <br />Cause a wound, <br />A flame can heal <br />a wound as well. <br /> <br />I am all the better for it. <br /> <br />1997<br /><br />Victoria Gauci<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dragonslayer-3/
