Short Story: Poems from Liberty Justice

by Brett McKay

Liberty is a thirteen-year-old teen in my latest novel, Liberty Justice, released by Red Adept Publishing. Liberty takes care of her heroin-addicted mother while battling adolescence and struggling to fit in at a new school. The only outlet she finds solace in is her poetry. I wanted to sprinkle a few of her poems into the story to reflect what she was going through at the time.

I reached out to a close friend of mine who writes poetry, and I asked her if she’d be willing to write a few for me. I didn’t know what to expect, but what I received from Shanna reflected some of the most heartfelt, deep emotions and spoke to me as if they were Liberty’s words. Thank you, Shanna.

All poems written by Shanna Michelson, except for Sometimes and Sunset by Brett McKay.  

Invisible

I try so hard to fit in but all they do is stare.

Is it the acne on my face, my worn-out clothes, or do they somehow

know of the secrets I hide?

If I could just be invisible my life would be so much easier.

No more pain, no more lies, no more secrets…

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Sometimes

I don’t belong.

I’m not like them.

I’m empty. I’m hurt. I’m special. I’m nothing. I’m pretty. I’m pissed. I’m ugly.

Am I like them? Do I want to be like them? Sometimes.

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Your Secret Life

I see you changing right before my eyes, why all the secrets & lies?

You try to hide this secret life from me, but I see it all.

You think these drugs will make you happy or take away the pain?

They WON’T! Instead they will destroy you, they will destroy us.

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Love & Hate

You bring me so much love, yet so much hate.

How can I love you & hate you all at the same time?

Easy…DRUGS!!!

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Love Me

As I find you passed out on the couch, I am not sure if

You’re dead or alive, as you’re so high I can’t wake you.

What the hell is wrong with you?

How can you do this to yourself, to me, to us?

Why can’t you just love me, more than the drugs?

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Happy Again

I wish I could make this all go away.

If I could just take away your pain, then maybe you

would stop using again.

How can I fix this?

How can I make you happy again?

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Hope

I have seen you falling apart for a while now.

I kept holding onto hope. Hope that you would get help & stop using.

Hope that we could have a normal life.

Now I hope & pray that you have finally hit rock bottom & will get clean.

Hope is all I have left.

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Time

With each passing day, I have finally learned that I can’t fix you.

Only you have the power to change your life.

Time has taught me forgiveness & that we all deserve a second chance.

Here’s to our second chance

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary

Sunset

My mother is a sunset. Both light and dark.

She couldn’t be beautiful and radiant without the dark,

and the dark couldn’t be as stark without the light.

–Poem from Liberty Justice’s diary