What She's Worth | Teen Ink

What She's Worth

March 7, 2013
By SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel


She opened her eyes,
Those clear big beautiful eyes of hers
And since that day was told
She can’t ever be as good as you, like you even
She can’t ever do things the way you do, like you even
She just can’t

Hang on, “Why the heck?” she asks
‘Cause you’re a girl, a woman
“Oh, well”, she says “I think you’re wrong. I can.
Oh, no – not think, no ‘I know’”

Yeah, you! She’s already done that
All that and much more. Unlike you.
She would wake up before the amber star did,
And that farm girl, she was out in the fields;
As he rose. The sweat on her brow, not metaphorical;
Even if she worked in a windowless,
Prison-cell-like cubicle, she worked herself to pain
She worked; I dare say more than you ever did.
She did. Unlike you.
And they both the town girl and the former told-of
Have (mostly) the same story…
She put up with those scornful stares,
Rode up that hill, up and up
Alongside those thorny, black, murky bushes
They cut her and oftentimes cut so deep,
Yet she rode up, up and up.

And she, the mother of your tyke
Oh, I suppose maybe you didn't like
The child she bore you,
(Oh was it a girl? Sorry, to hear that sir…)
Or plain and simple just thought she’s a piece of filthy candy
To be chewed and spewed out; Unlike you.
And then lying there on the highway
Admiring that mirage and thinking why she just can’t let go
Maybe get stuck to a Porsche’s tire,
Oh, come on, how could she be deemed so lucky?
It must’ve been a broken-down tow truck’s or a minivan’s tire.
So you think you’re all that, so you threw her out,
You pushed her away,
And drove malignant daggers into her being.
Thank God now she knows she’s better off without all that.
All that can be dangerous; just like you.

She broke down too once, yes
Shattered and all those pieces of glass
Sticking into her from every side,
Like being locked into a square broom closet
With nails sticking out of every side,
No way out, No way to leave,
Yes she, she’s been there too. Unlike you.
And quite unlike you, she knew how to
Gather all of her pieces and put them back together again.
She was strong. Still is. Stronger than you’ll ever be.
She made mistakes yet learned from them. Unlike you.
And she raised her child without your help,
Though biologically the lass was yours too;
So just shut the f**k up
When she tells you not to meddle.
Yea, you really want to come back now?
Not a good time.
‘Cause all those days she taught the girl to be proud of who she is.
Unlike you would ever have.
She went through pain – Unspeakable pain – You,
You would’ve died.
Yet she,
She lived and lived exemplary
She showed the world and she showed you.

She poured her blood into the earth and let it flow.
Just so she could raise that girl good.
She, a mother, and her girl understood why they say
Heaven lies under their feet, the mothers’, that is to say.

She loved her girl and she loved you
And forgave you, a trillion zillion times
But you, you faker, hypocrite, shammer
You would never learn
What she’s worth and you would go and
F**k up every single time.
Then she learned to say “NO” for good.

She grew old, maybe alone
Maybe cause she had learned not to trust
And as she finally closed her eyes
Those clear big beautiful eyes of hers,
She heaved a sigh, a sigh of relief,
Amid those last breaths, a sigh of relief…
‘Cause she was content ‘cause she’d done well.
She’d cried and laughed and made people laugh, broke things, fixed things,
Endured betrayal, Earned true appreciation,
Lived for a good cause, and the cause had blossomed,
Yes, she’d lived the right way,
She’d done all that you said she could never do
And maybe even did some things so much better than you

She lived and died,
The one thing she did best
One for which she sighed the hardest
She’d raised a healthy child, healthy in body and mind
And above all else:
A girl,
A girl who knew what she was worth


The author's comments:
This one's my third try at free-verse, I don't really know if it's good. But I sure think the story is relatable...And it's been written with feeling. Hope ya like it! I wrote this for "The International Women's Day"... Dedicated to all you beautiful gals out there. People! Please do comment!! xoxox

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This article has 15 comments.


on Jun. 23 2013 at 5:08 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

Well, I'm glad the story kept you reading, and thank you so much for that advice, I will surely keep my line-length more uniform, when next I write free-verse, but as I said, this is one of my first few free-verse poems so, I guess I'll have to examine others' free-verse more and see what it really is supposed to be like, do you have any to recommend that I should read?   Eka elrun ono

on Jun. 21 2013 at 9:03 pm
WrenArrington, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
0 articles 0 photos 74 comments
Your title is as strong as your writing style. While this is a pretty long poem, you didn't let your story-telling grow weak. If I had to offer a couple suggestions, I'd say you could try to make your line length a bit more uniform throughout to help it flow better. Also, be careful with punctuation. In a couple places you used semicolons where they didn't belong. Anyway, powerful story and powerful delivery--great job.

on Apr. 16 2013 at 12:18 pm
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

Thank YOU! Your words are ever so unique as always. Missing you.

ThoughtToner said...
on Apr. 11 2013 at 3:44 am
Oh you spoke what a timid farm-girl, a powerless mother couldn't in her man's domination. Surely, it's a cotton-candy carving of the bitter reality. Keep upthe good work!

on Apr. 6 2013 at 12:41 pm
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

Oh, Thanks!! I hoped it would do that.. Thank You for taking out the time to read! This was a different one for me.. :P

on Apr. 5 2013 at 9:13 pm
EPluribusUnum DIAMOND, Woodbine, Maryland
59 articles 24 photos 280 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; <br /> I lift my lids and all is born again.<br /> (I think I made you up inside my head).&quot;<br /> -Sylvia Plath

What a great story! You tell it so powerfully, it sucked me right in.

on Mar. 29 2013 at 1:48 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

Haha, definitely :P.

on Mar. 29 2013 at 1:47 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

Haha, definitely :P

on Mar. 29 2013 at 3:59 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

You think it suits me??

on Mar. 27 2013 at 2:49 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

I approve :)

on Mar. 27 2013 at 4:32 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

Hehe...Thanks!!  :D   This was sort of a different kind of writing for me so I wanted you to read it...

on Mar. 26 2013 at 4:32 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

I kind of got whiplash reading this, especially in the beginning :) lol, I'm kidding. I liked it. You go girl! :P

on Mar. 24 2013 at 11:41 am
JoPepper PLATINUM, Annandale, Virginia
35 articles 0 photos 782 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Freedom is the ability to not care what the other person thinks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not all those who wander are lost&quot; --JRR Tolkien<br /> <br /> &quot;When you are listening to music it is better to cover your eyes than your ears.&quot; --Jose&#039; Bergamin

No problem! xD

on Mar. 23 2013 at 11:36 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

Thank YOU for reading. I'm glad ya liked it! I hope I keep writing stuff to capture your attention and that makes you say "wow' :D

on Mar. 21 2013 at 3:59 pm
JoPepper PLATINUM, Annandale, Virginia
35 articles 0 photos 782 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Freedom is the ability to not care what the other person thinks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not all those who wander are lost&quot; --JRR Tolkien<br /> <br /> &quot;When you are listening to music it is better to cover your eyes than your ears.&quot; --Jose&#039; Bergamin

Wow that was fiery!  I really liked the last few lines.  Great job, keep writing! xD