Ever After,

                   Before

Is this what you see?
beyond the multitude of insecurities
                     beyond these eyes
There's pain & grief hidden so deep
                   I never know when it'll tumble
                              Out of me.
               Memories surfacing
      tears falling unwanted & unchecked
      left feeling bereft, am I depressed?
              Constantly stressed these greys
                       didn't come from wisdom
      This isn't the end only the beginning

                           After
You know what I see?
                   Beauty, strength, confidence
A warrior who fought hard to survive
                   & succeeded
          A queen who rose from the ashes
          of past they tried to use to define her

A woman who broke the ties of
                    bondage and learned her worth
          I was a caged bird, now I sing
          Do you see this smile? Somedays it
          still gets a little sad but most days
          even a diamond can't compete with its radiance.