Paradise

• Sienna Hamilton, Grade 11
• Poetry
• 2014

She strolls through the streets,
Her heart in her hand
And a smile which can light up the night sky.
She’s a fantastic liar.

She doesn’t have much
Just a house, an education and a dream.
One day, she thinks, “I’ll be outta here,
I’ll go to a place where time just stops and nobody knows my name.”

She wanders through her life,
Hiding all of the pain she is in
The memories that will never fade haunt her
To the point where she wonders if life would be better if it was non-existent.

As much as loneliness hurts her
And cuts deep into her soul,
She appreciates why others steer clear.
Who would want to be friends with a freak like her anyway?

She does have a family
But they work hard.
They ignore her and sometimes forget her existence,
Hence, the dream of paradise.

But that’ll be a while away
And although it hurts to be forgotten and treated like a leper
She accepts it.
Because, what’s the point of living if it’s going to be in sorrow and sadness?

One day she can leave it all behind,
And even though that could be a while away,
It’s worth the wait,
Because it’s a happiness to wonder, and a happiness to dream.