I\u2019ve carried this weight since I was a child,
Rejection met me when I was too young to understand.
The words they threw stuck like barbed wire in my skin,
I grew up wearing it like an invisible cloak
Trying to be good enough, trying to fit in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I learned early how to smile through the pain,
How to pretend I didn\u2019t feel it,
But the silence in my heart screamed louder
Each time I was pushed away,
Each time they said I wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an adult, I thought it would fade,
That I could outgrow the ache of never belonging.
But it followed me
Into friendships, relationships,
Even into the mirror where I looked at myself
And wondered why I was always second best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every “no” echoed the rejections from my past,
Every closed door felt like a wall I couldn’t climb.
I built defenses so high,
Even I couldn\u2019t find a way out sometimes.
Fear of hearing those words again,
\u201cYou\u2019re not what we want, not what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But lately, I\u2019ve been trying to listen
To the voice inside that never left
The one that whispered I was more than this hurt,
More than these labels they gave me.
I\u2019m learning to speak back to the echoes,
Telling them, \u201cI don\u2019t need your approval anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s been a slow fight,
And I still stumble on the old scars,
But I\u2019m finally giving myself
The acceptance I\u2019ve chased for so long.
I\u2019m learning to belong to me,
To rewrite the story, they tried to write for me.
And maybe, just maybe, that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019ve carried this weight since I was a child,Rejection met me when I was too young to understand.The words they threw stuck like barbed wire in my skin,I grew up wearing it like an invisible cloakTrying to be good enough, trying to fit in. I learned early how to smile through the pain,How to pretend […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,25,98],"tags":[35,49,34,67,50,61,55,22,48],"class_list":["post-2604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-solitude","category-storytime","tag-poems","tag-poetess","tag-poetry","tag-preciousowoko","tag-spokenword","tag-spokenwords","tag-stories","tag-walkingshadowpoetry","tag-walkingshadowpoetrykenya"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-5714746.jpeg?fit=872%2C1300&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3087,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/you-found-me-and-i-met-love-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2604,"position":0},"title":"You Found Me and I met Love by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"March 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I had given up, I won\u2019t even lie,Love had left me with tears to dry.My heart was cracked, my trust was gone,I swore I\u2019d never love anyone. But then you came, so soft, so kind,Patient enough to ease my mind.You didn\u2019t rush, you took your time,Showed me love was still\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poem"","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"man and woman kissing at a beach","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-photo-3156990.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-photo-3156990.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-photo-3156990.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pexels-photo-3156990.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2600,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/a-life-of-closed-doors\/","url_meta":{"origin":2604,"position":1},"title":"A Life of Closed Doors","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I grew up with the word \"No\"Echoing through my life like a broken song,Each time I tried to reach for something,The world reminded me I didn\u2019t belong. As a child, I learned how to hide my heart,Burying it beneath layers of quiet pain,Rejection wasn't just a moment, it was a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"diverse young men bullying crying ethnic lady","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2687,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/trying-to-get-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2604,"position":2},"title":"Trying to Get By walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Every morning, I wake up and try,To make my money last and get by,But no matter how hard I work,It feels like I\u2019m stuck in a tough spot. Bills keep piling up so high,I work more hours, but it\u2019s never enough,The paycheck is too small,And the debts just keep growing.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"person carrying container on the head on road","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3279,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/shes-not-here-but-her-love-remains-emotional-spoken-word\/","url_meta":{"origin":2604,"position":3},"title":"She\u2019s Not Here, But Her Love Remains – Emotional Spoken Word","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"May 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I wish I could call you today,Tell you how much I miss your voice.Mother\u2019s Day feels quiet now,But loving you was never a choice. It came so natural just like breathing.You were the first heart I ever knew.And though you\u2019ve gone beyond my sight,Everything still leads back to you. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "death"","block_context":{"text":"death","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"happy mothers day card beside pen macaroons flowers and box near coffee cup with saucer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-2072160.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-2072160.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-2072160.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-2072160.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-2072160.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2726,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/ending-rape-its-time-to-speak-up-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2604,"position":4},"title":"Ending Rape: It’s Time to Speak Up by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Rape isn\u2019t just a word,It\u2019s a wound that runs deep.It leaves scars we can\u2019t see,In minds that can\u2019t sleep. It\u2019s more than just pain,It\u2019s a crime, it\u2019s a stain.A violation of trust,A loss too hard to explain. We need to stop staying silent,We need to raise our voice.Because rape doesn\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"surrounded if you like my work consider supporting me at https www patreon com marekpiwnicki","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-19313117.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-19313117.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-19313117.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-19313117.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2656,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/left-to-pick-up-the-pieces-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2604,"position":5},"title":"Left to pick up the pieces by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I gave my heart so freely,thinking love would be enough.I offered my time,my patience,my everything,hoping it would mean something. But then, as soon as I let myself fall,I saw their true colors,their true selves,and it wasn\u2019t what I wanted.They only wanted me for moments,not for forever.They were here to pass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"food plate light holiday","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6555028.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6555028.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6555028.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6555028.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2606,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604\/revisions\/2606"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}