This Wall That's Me

• Samantha Lane, Grade 12, Berwick Secondary College
• Poetry
• 2017

Excellence Award in the 'Spread The Word 2017' competition

“Just get over it.”
But it was not as simple as building a bridge,
Or finding another way around.
“You’ll feel better later.”
It forever encircled me;
Its walls soaring on the edge of forever.
I could not wrap it in bandages,
Or place a kiss to make it better.
It was an impenetrable wall,
Made from nerve ends and fibres and me.
For a long time, I was petrified.
I never dared tell others of its existence, terrified of what might happen.
But one day, I placed my hand on the surface
And realised - it wasn’t as cold as I thought.
Sure, it was unrefined, but the soil was soft.
The wall doesn’t seem so scary now.
In fact, I’m growing flowers.