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<h3>Poem by <span class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color">Refilwe J Mokgatlenyane</span></h3>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/search/Scars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Photo</a><a href="https://www.pexels.com/search/Scars/"> by cottonbro from Pexels</a></em></p>
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<p>Throughout my childhood my mistakes have been labeled out<br>For every scar I got, represented every serious or even petty mistake I had made<br>Represented every cup or plate I accidentally broke,<br>And no mistake I made rubbed off and vanished without being paid for</p>
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<p>Spent all my years as a child screaming in pain<br>For every whipping I got standing behind the shower walls made of porcelain<br>My body barren and naked, earning whips from a stick of cane<br>And even more permanent scars that built walls inside of me, were the wistful words telling me I am worthless<br>More than just worthless, I was being told I am useless</p>
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<p>I grew up with my dreams threatening to shatter before my eyes<br>I grew up with my hopes getting flushed down the drain, time and again<br>I grew up with unrelenting doubts that I will ever see the light at the end of the tunnel<br>But you see, there has always been that little me inside of me with a little voice<br>And that little me soothed my worries and made me realize that there’s a lot more to earn from these scars<br>That one day all the dreams I keep having will be a reality and I will live to them</p>
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<p>And from every whipping sent down my spine making me whine<br>From every cursing word that fled down the tunnel in my ears<br>And from every dark and bold threats giving me Goosebumps and evoking my fears<br>Life keeps me moving because growth is inevitable<br>It keeps me growing towards that stage of stability where I’ll achieve my dreams and I never stop thriving<br>The many times I fall and earn another bruise are the many times I grow and open my eyes even wider and keep striving<br>I have my eyes on the ball and I know am about to get there, because I’ve spent my whole life surviving</p>
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