What Grows in the Dark
Elizabeth R.
-
This set of poems is essentially the parts of my life I could no longer carry. These pieces explore the difficult, complex realities of childhood silence, generational neglect, and the way trauma haunts the places where we grow up. I spent years learning to make myself smaller, to hide my truth, and to quietly survive in spaces where my pain was dismissed or rewritten. Writing these poems let me reclaim my story an act of defiance and a step toward healing. “Growing Up,” “Condoms on the Counter,” and “Pain to Power” are not just memories; they are landmarks in understanding, hurting, and healing. These works are dedicated to anyone who has been disbelieved, silenced, or blamed for their wounds children who needed protection and adults learning to protect themselves. If pain was the seed, then writing became the ground where I finally grew back.
-
Creativity, to me, is the ability to transform thoughts, emotions, and experiences into something tangible and meaningful. It is both a form of expression and a way of understanding the world. Creativity allows us to connect with others, and turn challenges or pain into art, that inspire and endure.
