Fake Friends & Where My Heart Used to Lay & COVERED
Fake Friends
It was all a game to them
I condemn because of loneliness
I gave myself to them like a sacrifice,
as I sit around the table with them
the air starts to choke me with revenge,
I weep, silent cries behind my mask
they stare and smile at me as if that would help me
my breath starts to shorten, and it becomes hard to speak
it becomes too much, and I have no choice but to reveal myself to them,
I take my mask off so they can see the real me
the pain, sadness, and fear,
I sit there hoping that they will give me a hand, but instead
those smiles turn to grins
and I have found myself around a table of fake friends.
Where My Heart Used to Lay
You hold it so carelessly.
As if it means nothing to you, and it just doesn't make any sense to me.
It is a gift from me to you,
it beats anxiously in your hands.
we both know what's to come.
This could be a night for a broken heart.
How am I supposed to experience love?
When the home where love lies has been demolished?
COVERED
The ground is below zero,
She lies there restfully,
Her form gently pressed against the earth.
She finds peace in her tranquillity,
Even in the presence of her enemy.
Brisk air mending her open wounds,
Her tears from her swollen eyes watering the soil between the footpath,
Total darkness draws a veil over her bruised body,
Hiding with it: The Bloodbath.
This occurred too often,
It became her norm,
Guardian: A person who guards, protects, or preserves.
She is aware of this word, but the meaning to her is misleading,
She quickly discovered that all her “Guardian” did was perform.
A performance to those around them,
More like a puppet show,
Strings attached to this little girl’s shoulder,
Mouth covered,
Making sure nobody will know.
Siobhan Cunningham (she/her), also known as Siobhan Alexandra, began writing poetry in earnest in 2021, using it as a means to process and express the personal challenges she was facing at the time. Her understanding of poetry deepened through a module in her Creative Writing and English Language course, which inspired her to consider sharing her work more widely. She started an Instagram poetry account to showcase her poems, but after a few months, she realized she was writing more for others than for herself, which ultimately felt inauthentic. Though she continues to write for personal expression, she remains eager to share her poetry and art with the world, staying true to her own voice and vision. Much of Siobhan's work explores themes of depression, the pain of family and friendship breakups, heartbreak, and the complexities of being a Black woman. Her poetry delves into these deeply personal and emotional experiences, offering a raw and honest reflection of the struggles and resilience that shape her identity.
LinkedIn: @SiobhanC