MY PRISON CELL (Where Have I Been)

This poem was written for me by my beautiful Mother, Virginia, on February 21, 1995.  It has never been seen by anyone but me.  Since I've been writing about my Mom lately, I am compelled to share this short piece.

I was going through a rough time trying to end a bad relationship.  She was there for me and extremely concerned.  She felt my pain as most mothers do.  I've made some bad decisions in my life and no doubt caused additional pain as well.  No matter what, she loved me unconditionally . . .

My Mom's original title of this poem was "Where Have I Been."  A similar title has already been used here on HubPages and therefore, I've renamed the piece "My Prison Cell."  The poem remains in tact as written by her so long ago.

Oh my God, what have I done

   What has my life become

   A haven for the sick of mind

   The low, the hateful, the unkind.

Trying to make them better

   Has crushed my very soul

   To depths I can no longer find

   Because I've lost control.

Please help me from this lowly place

   Where I have fallen deep

   Engaged in fear of those

   Who only make me weep.

The brutal eyes of hatred

   The hold they had on me

   Were so intensely frightening

   I looked, but did not see.

They turned me from my loved ones

   And my friends who really cared

   And made me leave them all behind

   Because I was so scared.

But now my life has turned around

   My mind is seeing clear

   The painful burden that crippled me

   Is not any longer near.

And now I am with spirits high

   I've left my prison cell

   The best is yet to come, you see

   For I have just left hell.

                                               vls 2/21/95