Behind the Picture Perfect

Behind the picture perfect family,

There were seven precious creations.

All human, all broken, all loving.

Let's say two were married,

Two strong sons, and three dear daughters

"Would you look at that big, beautiful family?

So wonderful, so bright, so stunning."

 

But others don't know about

The secrets this family holds.

You see, if people found out that

These seven outstanding people

always fought, always hurt, always cried,

 

Maybe the first death wouldn't have been such a surprise.

Now, I'm not saying he died because of loose ties.

But depression won, and my brother committed suicide.

He left us; two married, one son, three daughters.

He wrote, "I hope that one day, you can look at the sky and smile."

I said, "Never again will I see blue skies."

 

Eleven years into my life, and I've already tasted

Life's bitter, sour, and rotten fruit.

Three years later, I promised, "I will smile as much as I can survive."

Because life is not just for tears, snot, and self-pity.

I am strong; You are strong.

 

After two years, I defeated sadness and depression.

My heart was still broken, but it was not destroyed.

My family learned to be peaceful again, all six of us. 

"Look at your blessings, not your pain," my dad says.

And when I was 17, he put those words to the test.

 

Diagnosed with leukemia, he said, "I am blessed; I am blessed,

With my picture perfect family and my God; I've lived the best."

They said, "You have three years." He said, "I'll live my ten."

The doctors were wrong and so was my dad.

He left after only two years, and now there were five.

One widow, one son, two daughters.

What an opportunity, Life. To bring distress again.

I am strong; You are strong. 

 

"Look at your blessings, not your pain," my dad said.

Sometimes I can't, Dad, but I'll try my best.

It's been a month and several days since his passing.

And I can't guarantee you a happy ending,

 

However, I know how it feels to be at the lowest point of the valley

And how it feels like to be at the highest peak of the mountain.

Our journeys are not all the same, but

We all know the lows of lows and the highs of highs.

Where would you rather be? Go for it.

 

Remember that life doesn't always give you

Bitter, sour, and rotten fruit.

Look around; there's another branch of

Sweet, juicy, and delicious ones. 

 

My family may not be the same family it used to be,

But, we are perfect because of our imperfections.

Everyone has a story to tell;

Let's look behind the picture perfect figure.

This poem is about: 
Me
My family

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