I Raised Me to be a Strong Girl

You said you raised me to be a strong girl,

Citing my accomplishments,
My strengths, my talents, my wit
Did you realize I broke under your fists,

You turned me to shrapnel with your palms

I grew resilient

Like a tree I simply planted my roots firmly in the ground

So you can’t cut me down or knock me over
I was, am, a strong girl
not by nature, but by lack of nurture.

I raised me to be a strong girl.