Taking on a different persona <br />like a jackal in the hen’s coop <br />I perfected this kind of hiding <br />when I was only just a child <br /> <br />and I had too much responsibility <br />and had to act as a mother <br />long before my time. <br /> <br />I got up early in the morning <br />to do all of my chores <br />and to get my smaller brothers and sisters <br />ready for school <br /> <br />but when it was my turn <br />to get ready for school, <br />I changed back <br />into the skin of a child <br /> <br />and I untangled the curlers in my hair <br />and made high ponytails <br />with the long curly hair <br /> <br />and I only possessed one school uniform <br />but it was ironed and tidy <br />and my shirt and socks <br />was always washed pure white <br /> <br />and I walked behind them <br />until they got to school <br />and that was when my responsibilities <br />ended for that part of the day <br /> <br />and I became somebody else <br />and did not know them at all <br />as I was of a higher class <br />and I was the teacher’s pet <br />and my grades was the highest <br />in the class <br />and I studied to be noticed <br /> <br />but at home everything <br />was falling apart <br />and I experienced this <br />in every inch of my being <br /> <br />and at school I could hide <br />in plain sight <br />and for a few hours <br />could become somebody else <br />and fit in and did matter <br />and could play and laugh <br />and the problems at home <br />could stay there for a while.<br /><br />Daleen Enslinstrydom<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/jackal-in-hide/
