Tanja was selected as the winner of Sightline’s poetry contest. Below is her poem, “Girl I See You.”
Girl I See You
Girl I see you broken
What have they done to you?
Have they destroyed you too?
Like they destroyed me, long ago?
Girl I see you
I see how you have given up
And how you have built those walls
Around you, to protect your heart
Girl I see how your soul is dying
That the only thing that keeps you alive
Are the tears you’re hiding
Trying not to let anyone know
I see how your eyes are looking
But don’t see anymore
How your ears are listening
But stopped hearing long ago
Girl, how those lips that were used to kiss
Now refuse to smile
How those ocean eyes once full of passion
Are now red from crying
But girl I promise you it will pass
I promise you will love again
Those walls will break, again, a smile you’ll wear
And when that happens, I promise I’ll be there
–Tanjamara Penner