A note from the writer: "this poem explores being entrapped in trauma, and although constantly trying to push free and ‘move on', never being able to truly escape."
If I was a crab, I could moult away my skin when it turns too tight,
grow a new one, more spacious.
You’ll be okay you’re strong you’ll move on
I try to swallow them but they’re stuck, there, in the back of my throat,
so I regurgitate them all back up with I’m okay – strong – I’ll move on
like a mother bird feeding her worried chicks.
This seems to satisfy them. They stop saying the words they think they need to say.
But I’m left starved; stomach half empty.
Breathe.
If I was a crab, and not a mother bird, I could scuttle, at least sideways, at least something, I could scuttle into the waves and vanish, let the sea drift me from scalding sands, rinse it all away
and I think, I think then I would be okay.
At least, until the tide pulls me back to shore.
More for you
Support Young Creators Like This One!
VoiceBox is a platform built to help young creators thrive. We believe that sharing thoughtful, high-quality content deserves pay even if your audience isn’t 100,000 strong.
But here's the thing: while you enjoy free content, our young contributors from all over the world are fairly compensated for their work. To keep this up, we need your help.
Will you join our community of supporters?
Your donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference. It allows us to:
- Compensate young creators for their work
- Maintain a safe, ad-free environment
- Continue providing high-quality, free content, including research reports and insights into youth issues
- Highlight youth voices and unique perspectives from cultures around the world
Your generosity fuels our mission! By supporting VoiceBox, you are directly supporting young people and showing that you value what they have to say.